LIBRARY 

foiogicitt   j^emuumi, 

PRTXCHTOX.  X.  J. 

M31    B32    1860 

i  Chester,  1810- 

ical  discourse  on 
e/?YA..af...t±u=» 


BX 

9211  .1 

Backus,  Jc 

1884. 

An 

historj 

t  ? 

iki  no  1  c 

AN 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE: 


ON  TAKING  LEAVE  OF  THE  OLD  CHURCH  EDIFICE  OF  THE  FIRST 
PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION  IN  BALTIMORE. 


JOHN   C .    BACKUS 


PASTOR    OP    THE    C1IFRCU. 


BALTIMORE: 

JOHN    W  .    WOODS,    PRINTER. 

18G0. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/historicaldiscOOback 


PREFATORY    NOTE. 

The  following  Discourse,  containing  a  review  of  the  history  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Baltimore  while  occupying  the  edi- 
fice in  which  it  has  worshiped  for  nearly  seventy  years,  was  prepared 
as  a  farewell  deliverance  in  that  venerable  building.  It  was  found 
however  too  long  to  be  spoken  at  one  time,  and  a  part  of  it  was  reserved 
for  a  future  opportunity.  This  did  not  occur  for  some  weeks,  which 
will  account  for  the  delay  in  complying  with  a  request,  made  by  the 
Committee  of  the  Church  after  the  delivery  of  the  first  part,  to  com- 
mit it  to  the  press.  In  now  doing  this,  it  has  been  deemed  best  to  retain 
its  original  form  of  a  single  Discourse. 


DISCOURSE. 


PSALM  LXXVIII,  2—4. 

"I  WILL  UTTER  DARK  SAYINGS  OF  OLD:  WHICH  WE  HAVE  HEARD 
AND  KNOWN,  AND  OUR  FATHERS  HAVE  TOLD  US.  We  WILL  NOT 
HIDE  THEM  FROM  THEIR  CHILDREN,  SHEWING  TO  THE  GENERATIONS 
TO  COME  THE  PRAISES  OF  THE  LORD  AND  HlS  STRENGTH,  AND  HlS 
WONDERFUL    WORKS    THAT    He  HATH  DONE." 

To-day  we  assemble  for  the  last  time  in  this 
our  long  accustomed  place  of  worship.  There 
are  few  probably  belonging  to  this  congregation, 
who  are  wholly  unaffected  by  the  thought,  that 
a  spot  so  long  the  scene  of  our  religious  solemni- 
ties, hallowed  by  the  prayers  of  so  many  among 
the  venerated  dead,  and  rendered  sacred  by  as- 
sociations so  solemn  and  tender  in  the  experi- 
ence of  many  still  among  the  living,  is  about  to 
be  resigned  into  other  hands,  to  be  emplo}Ted 
for  valuable  but  very  different  purposes.     Vol- 


6 

untarily  indeed,  at  what  seems  a  call  of  Provi- 
dence, but  with  no  feelings  of  indifference,  do 
we  leave  these  venerable  walls,  these  familiar 
pews,  this  endeared  place  of  our  sacramental 
observances,  this  sacred  desk.  Here  many 
of  you  have  been  dedicated  to  God  in  baptism, 
first  listened  to  the  public  proclamations  of  the 
gospel,  became  enlightened  in  the  saving  know- 
ledge of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  openly 
espoused  his  cause  and  professed  his  name. 
What  wrestlings  in  prayer  have  been  here  wit- 
nessed, what  effusions  of  the  spirit  received, 
what  seasons  of  communion  enjoyed?  You 
have  worshiped  here  with  pastors,  parents, 
husbands,  wives,  children,  brothers,  sisters,  com- 
panions, friends,  who  were  very  lovely  and 
pleasant  in  their  lives,  but  are  now  no  more, 
having  been  removed  to  the  upper  sanctuary. 
To  some  of  ardent  sensibilities  and  fervid  imagi- 
nations, "the  very  stones  seem  to  cry  out  of  the 
wall,  and  the  beam  out  of  the  timber."  These 
ceilings  might  seem  to  some  frescoed  all  over  like 
the  ceilings  of  the  Vatican,  only  here  invisible  to 
the  eye  of  sense,  with  what  has  been  heard,  felt, 


resolved,  done  within  these  courts.  The  power 
of  association  ministers  the  warmth  and  light, 
which  bring  out  into  distinct  view  the  unper- 
ceived  writing  of  the  memory.  It  is  not  sur- 
prising that  many  of  you  take  leave  with  solemn 
and  tender  regret  of  a  place  rendered  sacred  by 
so  many  associations.  It  must  be  remembered 
however  that  these  are  valuable,  not  on  their 
own  account,  but  because  of  their  relation  to 
the  end  with  reference  to  which  this  principle 
has  been  implanted  in  the  human  constitution. 
This  power  of  association  is  a  part  of  that  deli- 
cate mechanism,  by  which  a  wise  Providence  is 
pleased  to  keep  alive  healthful  impressions,  for 
the  sake  of  their  influence  upon  the  character 
and  destiny  of  men.  And  the  moment  they  are 
so  cherished  as  to  interfere  with  their  legitimate 
ends,  an  important  principle  of  our  nature  is 
perverted,  and  becomes  a  savor  of  death  unto 
death,  instead  of  life  unto  life.  As  long  as  this 
building  is  suited  to  promote  the  ends  for  which 
it  was  erected,  these  associations  tend  to  further 
its  design,  and  may  render  it  more  pleasant  and 
profitable   to    those    who    assemble    here.     But 


when,  for  any  reasons,  it  ceases  to  be  suitable  for 
this,  our  still  clinging  to  it  merely  because  of 
such  associations,  would  become  rather  hurtful 
than  profitable,  and  convert  our  Bethel  or  House 
of  God  into  a  Bethhaven  or  House  of  Vanity. 
Bowing  therefore  to  what  seems  a  plain  intima- 
tion of  God's  providence,  we  have  come  this  day 
to  take  our  final  leave.  And  in  so  doing,  de- 
siring to  direct  your  meditations  in  some  con- 
genial channel,  I  have  thought  that  it  might  be 
both  interesting  and  profitable,  to  spend  these 
last  moments  in  reviewing  the  history  of  God's 
dealings  with  the  congregation,  during  its  occu- 
pancy of  this  sacred  edifice. 

It  may  be  well  however  briefly  to  premise, 
that  the  origin  of  this  church,  like  that  of  most 
of  the  churches,  which  came  into  existence  in  the 
earlier  periods  of  the  history  of  this  country,  is 
involved  in  some  obscurity.  Composed  at  first 
of  very  few  families,  imperfectly  organized,  and 
worshiping,  like  the  primitive  christians,  in 
private  houses,  and  upper  rooms,  they  came 
very  gradually  into  the  form  of  regularly  consti- 
tuted bodies.     There  seems  to  have  been  quite 


9 

early  a  small  band  of  Presbyterians,  sparsely 
scattered  over  this  region.  In  the  minutes  of 
the  mother  Presbytery  in  this  country,  there  is  a 
record,  under  the  date  of  September  21st,  1715, 
to  this  effect  ;  Mr.  James  Gordon  having  pre- 
sented a  call  from  the  people  of  Baltimore 
county  in  Maryland  to  Mr.  Hugh  Conn,  the 
Presbytery  called  for,  considered  and  approved 
the  said  Mr.  Conn's  credentials,  and  made 
arrangements  for  his  ordination  among  the 
abovesaid  people.  In  1740  Mr.  Whitfield,  after 
his  first  visit  through  this  region,  saj7s  that  he 
found  a  close  opposition  from  the  Presbyterians 
in  Baltimore.  In  1751  Mr.  (afterwards  Presi- 
dent) Davies  sent  Dr.  Bellamy  of  New  England, 
an  account  of  an  extraordinary  revival  of  re- 
ligion about  here,  and  says  that  he  learned  that 
Mr.  Whittlesey,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  was 
about  to  settle  in  this  region.  Dr.  William 
Lyon,  and  at  least  some  others  who  originally 
formed  this  church,  had  then  resided  here  some 
years.      In  1760,  as  we  learn  from  a  manuscript* 

°  This  is  one  of  the  papers  placed  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Green  by 
the  General  Assembly  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  a  history  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 


10 

in  the  possession  of  the  Presbj'terian  Historical 
Society,  Donegal  Presb}'tery  appointed  Mr.  John 
Steele  to  preach  one  Sabbath  in  Baltimore. 
In  1761  Mr.  Hector  Alison  preached  here  several 
Sabbaths ;  and  application  was  made  by  the 
Presbyterians  of  Baltimore  town  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Castle  on  his  behalf.  But  on 
their  sending  a  commission  here  in  Novem- 
ber, 1761,  it  was  judged  that  the  proposals 
were  so  unsatisfactory,  that  it  was  inexpedient 
to  suffer  such  a  call  to  be  placed  in  his  hands. 
The  congregation  was  small,  without  a  house  of 
worship,  and  unable  to  support  a  minister.  Mr. 
Alison  removed  soon  after  to  Williamsburg, 
South  Carolina,  where  he  died.  As  he  had 
been  ordained  in  1746,  he  in  all  probability  had 
a  family,  which  would  render  it  more  difficult 
to  sustain  hiin. 

These  facts  make  it  evident,  that  previous  to 
1761  there  was  a  small  congregation  of  Pres- 
byterians in  Baltimore,  meeting  together  for 
public  worship,  seeking  and  receiving  supplies 
from  the  nearest  Presbyteries,  and  earnestly 
desiring  a  settled  ministry.     Dr.  Patrick  Allison 


11 

however,  the  first  stated  minister  of  the  church, 
considered  the  year  1761  as  the  date  of  its  more 
formal  commencement.  In  a  brief  history  of 
the  congregation,  which  he  prepared  by  direc- 
tion of  the  General  Assembly  and  of  the  Pres- 
bytery near  the  close  of  his  ministry — which 
has  been  preserved  and  is  in  the  possession  of 
the  Presbyterian  Historical  Society — he  says  : 
"In  1761  the  advantageous  situation  of  the  town 
of  Baltimore,  induced  a  few  Presbyterian  fam- 
ilies to  remove  here  from  Pennsylvania,  and 
these,  with  two  or  three  others  of  the  same  per- 
suasion, who  had  emigrated  directly  from  Europe, 
formed  themselves  into  a  religious  society,  and 
had  occasional  supplies,  assembling  in  private 
houses,  though  liable  to  prosecution  on  this 
account,  as  the  province  groaned  under  a  re- 
ligious establishment."  Among  the  original 
ones  was  Dr.  William  Lyon,  from  the  north  of 
Ireland.  Among  those  said  to  have  come  from 
Pennsylvania,  were  Messrs.  John  Smith  and 
William  Buchanan,  who  removed  here  from  Car- 
lisle in  1761 ;  and  were  followed  the  next  year 
by  Messrs.   William  Smith  and  James  Sterret, 


12 

from  Lancaster  county ;  and  soon  after  by  Messrs. 
Mark  Alexander,  John  Brown,  Benjamin  Grif- 
fith, Robert  Purviance,  and  Wm.  Spear,  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  ;  Drs. 
John  and  Henry  Stephenson,  from  Ireland  ;  and 
Mr.  Jonathan  Plowman,  from  England. 

In  May,  1763,  and  again  in  August  following, 
they  requested  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia 
to  send  Mr.  Patrick  Allison  to  preach  to  them — 
their  attention  having  been  directed  to  him,  as  I 
learned  from  the  late  Robert  Purviance,  Esq., 
by  some  youth  from  Baltimore,  who  were  pur- 
suing their  studies  in  Newark  Academy,  where 
Mr.  Allison  was  acting  as  tutor.  Although  in- 
vited at  the  same  time  to  become  the  pastor  of 
what  was  then  a  much  larger  church  in  New 
Castle,  Delaware,  his  prudent  foresight  led  him 
to  express  his  preference  to  accept  the  call  from 
this  church,  to  which  accordingly  the  Presbytery 
sent  him,  and  in  which  he  continued  till  his 
death  in  1802.  Very  soon  after  he  came  here, 
the  congregation  leased  (December  5th,  1763) 
two  lots  on  Fayette  (then  called  East)  street,  in 
the  rear  of  the   edifice  at  present  occupied  by 


13 

Christ  Church,  on  the  corner  of  Guy  street. 
There  they  erected  a  small  log  church,  which 
in  about  two  years  was  sold  to  Mr.  Charles 
Riclgely.  About  the  time  that  I  came  to  Balti- 
more (twenty-three  years  ago)  it  was  used  as  a 
carpenter's  shop,  which  some  now  present  no 
doubt  remember — one  having  himself  worked  in 
it.  In  March,  1765,  feeling  the  disadvantages 
of  worshiping  in  so  poor  and  incommodious  a 
building,  they  purchased  a  part  (eighty  feet)  of 
the  present  site  from  Alexander  Lawson.  In 
1772  this  was  added  to,  the  remaining  portion  of 
the  lot  being  leased  from  Andrew  Buchanan 
and  afterwards  purchased  in  fee.  Here  they 
erected  a  plain  brick  church,  forty-five  feet 
long  by  thirty-five  feet  wide,  containing  thirty- 
six  pews.  The  building  was  completed  in  No- 
vember, 1766,  and  all  the  pews  rented  except 
two.  In  1771  that  building  was  enlarged  one- 
third,  so  as  to  contain  more  than  fifty  pews. 
About  eighteen  years  after  this  enlargement, 
(1789,)  the  congregation  finding  the  house 
still  too  strait  for  them,  met  together,  and  after 
some  deliberation  resolved  to  erect  the  present 


edifice.  It  Was  made  ready  for  occupancy  in 
1791  ;  and  after  some  time  the  portico  and  tow- 
ers were  added,  and  the  building  was  completed, 
then  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  church  edifices 
in  the  country — an  ornament  to  the  city,  and  a 
credit  to  the  congregation. 

The  period  from  that  date  to  the  present  time, 
embraces  the  history  that  I  desire  briefly  to  re- 
view, in  the  hope  of  awakening  our  gratitude, 
deepening  our  sense  of  obligation,  and  constrain- 
ing our  more  devoted  consecration  to  the  great 
purposes,  for  which  this  building  was  erected,  and 
in  which  it  has  been  so  long,  and  we  may  hope 
not  unprofitably,  employed.  With  this  view  per- 
mit me  to  direct  3'our  attention  to  the  period  of 
the  world  in  which  it  has  existed,  the  human  in- 
strumentalities with  which  it  has  been  favored, 
the  divine  blessings  it  has  enjoyed,  and  the 
services  it  has  been  enabled,  under  God,  to 
render  to  this  community,  to  the  country  and  to 
the  world.  The  theme  is  one  of  wide  extent, 
and  the  time,  which  it  is  proper  to  devote  to  this 
exercise,  will  only  permit  me  to  glance  cursorily 


15 

at  the  topics,  which  have  been  suggested  for  your 
consideration. 

I.  Let  us  then  first  take  a  brief  view  of  the 
period,  which  had  just  dawned  when  this  edifice 
was  being  reared,  with  special  reference  to  its 
bearing  upon  the  objects  to  which  christian 
churches  are  devoted. 

1.  Then,  if  I  mistake  not,  had  the  rights  of 
man  come  to  be  recognized,  in  the  establishment 
of  this  free  government,  with  more  distinctness 
than  ever  before.  The  great  struggle  for  civil 
and  religious  liberty,  which  had  been  going  on 
for  ages,  then  achieved  a  most  remarkable  suc- 
cess. The  federal  constitution  had  just  been 
adopted  and  this  new  born  republic  had  com- 
menced its  career  of  unexampled  prosperity, 
affording  the  widest  field  for  the  great  mission 
of  the  christian  church. 

It  has  been  said  that  winter,  which  seems  so 
like  the  death  of  nature,  is  in  reality  its  birth — 
the  season  when  its  buds  and  germs  are  in- 
sensibly  and    mysteriously    maturing   for  their 


L6 

bloom  and  fragrance  in  spring.  80  the  period, 
which  preceded  the  colonization  of  this  coun- 
try, was  the  winter  and  seemed  to  be  the 
death  of  human  liberties.  But  in  it  were  con- 
ceived those  principles  to  which  civilization 
and  freedom  owe  more  than  to  any  other.  At 
no  previous  time,  in  no  other  country,  had  the 
great  principles  of  civil  and  religions  liberty 
been  more  clearly  developed,  than  in  Great 
Britain  during  the  time  of  the  Puritans.  Those 
great  events,  which  marked  the  preceding  cen- 
tury as  one  of  the  most  glorious  in  the  history 
of  the  world,  and  which  roused  christians  from 
the  long  sleep  of  the  middle  ages,  had  begun  to 
work  out  their  beneficent  results  and  to  put  a 
new  aspect  on  society.  The  revival  of  letters 
through  the  influence  of  Grecian  scholars,  who 
were  dispersed  over  Europe  on  the  fall  of  the 
Eastern  Empire — the  introduction  of  that  new 
and  better    method  of  investigation,  whose  ex- 

CD 

position  has  made  Bacon's  name  so  illustrious  — 
the  perfection  of  the  compass,  opening  new 
fields  of  discovery,  and  increasing  the  facilities  of 
intercourse  between  distant  nations  —  the  inven- 


1? 

tion  of  gunpowder,  which  has  changed  the  whole 
art  of  war  by  putting  into  the  hands  of  genius 
and  skill  a  power  to  resist  brute  force,  thus  af- 
fording right  a  protection  against  mere  might — 
the  invention  of  printing,  by  which  knowledge 
was  diffused  and  made  common  property — the 
reformation  of  the  sixteenth  century,  in  which 
individual  responsibility,  the  right  and  duty  of 
private  judgment,  were  asserted  and  established, 
involving  the  germ  of  equal  rights,  and  the  true 
foundation  of  self  government — these  great 
events,  to  which  human  civilization  owes  so 
much,  had  not  only  taken  place,  but  had  brought 
forth  their  first  fruits. 

The  Presbyterian  body,  with  which  we  are 
connected,  was  among  the  last  of  the  religious 
denominations,  that  obtained  a  distinct  and  per- 
manent settlement  in  the  country.  The  perse- 
cutions which  drove  so  many  of  the  earlier  col- 
onists to  these  shores,  fell  first  upon  the  Inde- 
pendents, the  Quakers  and  the  Catholics.  The 
Presbyterian,  being  the  established  church  of 
Scotland,  was  not  directly  molested  by  James 
after   he    ascended    the    English    throne.     And 


18 

when,  in  the  reign  of  his  infatuated  son,  the 
attempt  to  accomplish  its  overthrow  was  made, 
it  led  to  a  protracted  struggle,  which  continually 
encouraged  hopes  of  the  success,  with  which  it 
was  eventually  crowned.  When  the  earlier 
colonists  emigrated,  the  agitations  out  of  which 
came  those  principles  that  received  so  glorious 
a  development  in  the  time  of  the  commonwealth, 
had  but  just  commenced.  The  later  colonists 
were  retained  in  a  school,  in  which  these  great 
principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  although 
by  dear  bought  lessons,  were  more  effectually 
taught.  And  thus  was  there  a  more  complete 
preparation  for  asserting  them  in  our  Declaration 
of  Independence.  I  need  not  dwell  upon  the 
progress  and  glorious  issue  of  that  revolutionary 
struggle.  When  this  church  was  erected,  that 
war  had  closed,  the  independence  of  the  country 
was  acknowledged,  the  Federal  constitution  was 
adopted,  and  the  freest  people  on  the  face  of  the 
earth  were  launched  on  a  career  of  prosperity 
and  glory,  of  which  the  world  has  witnessed  no 
equal  example.  "The  political  system  of  Europe 
was  indeed,  as  has  been  said,  just  plunging  into 


19 

a  state  of  frightful  disintegration.  The  reigns  of 
the  oldest  monarchies  were  slipping,  besmeared 
with  blood,  from  the  hands  of  the  descendants  of 
thirty  generations  of  kings.  But  although  the 
United  States  were  drawn  at  first,  to  some  ex- 
tent, into  the  outer  circles  of  the  terrific  mael- 
strom, they  soon  escaped  and  continued  safely  on 
their  course."*  And  from  this  time  has  the  coun- 
try afforded  one  the  most  favored  fields  for  the 
enjoyment  and  promotion  of  religion,  to  be  found 
on  the  earth. 

2.  Then  too  had  just  commenced  the  age  of 
the  greatest  improvements  in  everything  per- 
taining to  the  material  interests  of  society.  In 
no  similar  period  have  science  and  art  made 
such  advances,  more  especially  in  the  direc- 
tion of  human  comfort  and  well  being.  Almost 
ceasing  to  be  pursued  as  mere  matters  of  specu- 
lation, curiosity,  or  intellectual  gratification,  they 
had  begun  to  be  studied  and  practiced  with 
most  indefatigable    assiduity,  with  reference  to 

0  Edward  Evprett. 


20 

the  great  practical  purposes  of  life — relieving  hu- 
man drudgery  and  multiplying  human  comforts. 
So  that  it  has  come  to  pass  that  no  investigation 
in  science  is  so  recondite,  no  speculation  in 
philosophy  is  so  daring,  that  we  do  not  expect 
from  it  some  useful  practical  result,  some  new 
power  over  matter,  some  valuable  accession  to  hu- 
man welfare.  Every  natural  law  and  agency  has 
been  put  into  requisition;  the  wind,  the  waves, 
steam,  electricity,  magnetism,  have  all  been  har- 
nessed to  the  car  of  improvement  and  made  to 
work  for  man,  propelling  his  machines,  manu- 
facturing his  food  and  fabrics,  transporting  his 
merchandise,  transmitting  his  messages,  and  dif- 
fusing knowledge.  The  productions  of  human 
industry,  the  achievements  of  human  enterprise 
have  thus  been  increased  ten  thousand  fold; 
the  necessaries,  the  comforts  and  the  luxuries 
of  life  have  been  greatly  cheapened.  So  that 
the  laborer  can  now  live,  eat,  dress  and  move 
about,  better  than  princes  of  former  centuries, 
and  at  the  same  time  redeem  leisure  for  mental 
and  moral  improvement.  The  average  duration 
of  human  life  too   has  been  not  inconsiderably 


21 

lengthened  by  the  advancements  that  have  been 
made  in  the  science  of  medicine,  the  improve- 
ments that  have  been  brought  about  in  political 
economy,  and  the  increase  that  has  taken  place 
in  the  comforts  of  living.  And  while  man  has 
been  relieved  from  so  much  of  the  drudgery  of 
toil,  knowledge  has  been  increased,  not  only  by 
the  discoveries  of  science,  but  also  by  multiplying 
the  means  of  education  in  common  schools,  by 
cheapening  books  and  newspapers,  awakening 
inquiry  and  diffusing  intelligence.  At  the  same 
time  remote  continents  and  separated  people 
have  been  brought  into  closer  proximity.  For, 
while  the  distances  on  the  globe  are  the  same 
at  this  day  as  at  the  creation  of  the  world, 
the  facilities  of  communication  have  brought 
Europe,  Asia  and  Africa  virtually  as  near 
to  this  country  now,  as  its  present  extrem- 
ities were  to  each  other  two  centuries  ago. 
When  then  we  consider  that  it  is  the  great  ob- 
ject of  the  church  to  raise  man  to  his  true  dig. 
nity,  happiness  and  glory,  through  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  and  to  extend  the  Redeemer's  kingdom 
throughout  the  world,  is  it  not  a   privilege  to 


22 

have  existed,  as  a  congregation,  during  a  period 
in  which  such  material  facilities  have  been 
afforded  for  its  proper  work. 

3.  To  this  we  may  add  that  the  period,  when 
this  church  was  erected,  introduced  an  era,  espe- 
cially in  this  country,  of  very  gracious  revivals 
of  religion.  "In  the  year  1792,"  says  Dr.  Griffin, 
"commenced  that  series  of  general  revivals, 
which  has  greatly  distinguished  the  American 
churches  and  has  never  been  entirely  interrupt- 
ted,  and  may  we  not  hope  from  present  indica- 
tions, never  will  be  till  the  whole  earth  is  filled 
with  the  glory  of  the  Lord."  Seasons  of  special 
religious  awakening  date  indeed  as  far  back  as  the 
days  of  Seth,  and  may  be  traced  through  those  of 
Joshua,  Josiah,  Ezra,  John  the  Baptist,  Pente- 
cost, the  Reformation,  and  the  revival  in  the 
first  half  of  the  last  century  in  connection  with 
the  labors  of  the  Wesleys  and  Whitfield.  They 
seem  to  have  constituted  the  divine  meth- 
od of  promoting  religion  under  different  dispen- 
sations in  all  ages.  These  however  were  wide- 
ly separated  eras. 


23 

After  the  last  of  these  great  awakenings,  which 
proved  so  great  a  blessing  to  this- country  as  well 
as  to  Great  Britain,  an  unusual  decline  in  religion 
had  manifestly  taken  place.  From  the  year  1745 
to  that  of  1792,  the  Holy  Spirit  withheld,  in  a 
great  measure,  his  general  copious  influences. 
The  fifty  years,  that  followed  that  season  of  re- 
freshing, were  years  of  war  and  civil  commotion 
in  this  land ;  first,  by  reason  of  the  conflict 
of  twenty  years  between  France  and  England 
for  the  ascendancy  on  this  continent ;  then,  of  the 
struggle  of  the  colonies  for  independence  ;  and 
lastly,  of  the  unsettled  state  of  the  public  mind, 
which  preceded  the  adoption  of  the  federal  con- 
stitution. 

These  causes,  in  connection  with  the  constant 
anxiety  produced  by  the  incursions  of  hostile 
Indians,  and  the  toils  and  hardships  incident  to 
the  settlement  of  a  new  country,  kept  the  minds 
of  the  great  mass  of  this  people  so  agitated,  that 
religion  was  almost  overlooked  and  forgotten, 
and  Zion  languished.  The  crimes  and  vices, 
which  everywhere  prevailed,  the  dissipation,  pro- 
faneness,  Sabbath  desecration  and  infidelity,  which 


24 

camp-life,  in  connection  with  French  influence, 
engendered,  together  with  the  destitutions  and 
wants  of  the  new  settlements,  induced  however 
the  deepest  solicitude  and  a  spirit  of  fervent 
prayer  among  christians.  Like  Israel,  at  the  Red 
Sea,  they  were  driven  to  cry  mightily  unto  God. 
And  the  fruit  of  all  this  was  soon  seen  in  exten- 
sive revivals  of  religion,  which  have  continued 
to  characterize  the  country  and  to  be  known,  as 
American  revivals,  throughout  the  christian  world. 
Their  history  we  have  not  time  now  to  trace  ; 
and  it  is  sufficient  for  our  present  purpose  to  note 
the  interesting  fact,  that  just  when  God  in  his 
gracious  providence  was  introducing  this  new 
•  era,  the  edifice  in  which  we  now  worship  for  the 
last  time,  was  erected.  It  has  therefore  existed 
through  a  period  more  distinguished  in  this  re- 
spect than  any  other  of  equal  extent  in  the 
whole  history  of  the  world. 

4.  Lastly,  and  most  intimately  connected  with 
this  feature  of  the  period  we  have  just  considered, 
we  may  notice  that  the  time,  when  this  church  was 
built,  was  also  the  introduction  of  an  era  of  active 
christian    benevolence.     While    the    committee 


25 

of     this     congregation    were     planning     with 
anxious  solicitude    this  then  expensive  edifice, 
Carey,  Fuller,  and  others  in  England  were  con- 
ferring, in  the  face  of  ignorance,  prejudice,  bigo- 
try and  mammon,  about  the  formation  of  one  of 
the    earliest    of   those    benevolent    institutions 
which  have  distinguished  modern  christian  char- 
ity, and  now  cover  the  whole  face  of  Protestant 
Christendom.     Previous  to  that  time,  missiona- 
ry, bible,   tract,  Sunday  school   and    other  kin- 
dred institutions,  were  comparatively  unknown  ; 
the  aggressive  character  of  Christianity  had  been 
almost  entirely  undeveloped ;  the  church  seemed 
to     have   sunk    into    the    profoundest   slumber 
in    regard    to    the    extent    of  her    great   com- 
mission.    In    the  year  1793,    commenced    that 
severe  struggle  in  the  British  parliament,  in  which 
the  practical   wisdom  of  Grant  and   Fuller,  the 
burning  eloquence  of  Wilberforce,  and  the  inde- 
fatigable perseverance  of  Carey  and  others  con- 
tended for  the  right  to  seek  the  christianizing  of 
India,  and  which  triumphed  so  gloriously  in  the 
year  1813.     Since  then  these   enterprizes   have 
multiplied  so  greatly,  that  every  christian  coun- 


26 

try  and  every  christian  sect,  has  its  various  or- 
ganizations in  active  operation  for  the  conver- 
sion of  the  world  to  Christ.  A  lively  christian 
interest  has  been  awakened — christian  liberality 
has  been  developed — an  extensive  acquaintance 
with  heathen  nations  has  been  acquired — preju- 
dices against  this  christian  work  have  been  re- 
moved— partition  walls  have  been  broken 
down — sealed  empires  have  been  opened  to  the 
gospel — access  to  the  remotest  tribes  has  been 
gained — the  bible  has  been  translated  into  nume- 
rous languages — missionaries  of  the  cross  have 
been  sent  to  various  countries — and  facilities  for 
fulfilling  the  Saviour's  last  command,  such  as  had 
hardly  been  conceived  of  since  the  days  of  the 
Apostles,  have  been  improved. 

Such  are  some  of  the  features  of  the  era  that 
was  introduced  when  this  church  was  erected. 
May  we  not  see  in  them  cause  for  profound  grati- 
tude on  the  part  of  this  congregation  ? 

II.  Let  us  then  turn  in  the  next  place  to  con- 
template the  human  instruments  with  which,  in 
the  providence  of  God,  the  church  has  been  favor- 


27 

ed  for  meeting  the  emergencies  of  its  destined 
mission  during  this  period. 

They  may  be  viewed  in  connection  with  the 
several  pastorates  in  which  were  developed  suc- 
cessively, in  this  particular  congregation,  the  sev- 
eral characteristics  of  the  age  to  which  we  have 
been  adverting. 

1.  The  first  was  in  connection  with  the  min- 
istry of  Dr.  Allison.  When  he  came  to  this 
church,  Baltimore  contained  not  more  than  thirty 
houses.  From  the  time  when  Mr.  Fleming's  farm 
of  sixty  acres  was  laid  out  by  legislative  grant 
as  a  town,  till  the  adoption  of  the  federal  con- 
stitution, it  did  not  seem  to  flourish ;  and  that 
notwithstanding  Braddock's  defeat,  rendering 
the  Indians  more  lawless,  had  driven  many  of  the 
scattered  population  of  the  interior  into  the  towns 
for  protection,  and  a  considerable  body  of  French 
neutrals  had  sought  refuge  here  from  Nova 
Scotia,  when  it  was  taken  by  the  British.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  revolution  it  was  still  a 
village  of  not  more  than  five  thousand  inhabi- 
tants. And  even  at  the  close  of  that  struggle, 
notwithstanding  a  spirit  of  considerable  enter- 


28 

prise,  it  contained  only  about  eight  thousand 
When  Dr.  Allison  died,  it  had  become  the  third 
city  of  the  union  in  magnitude ;  and  this  church, 
which  arose  from  five  or  six  families,  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  congregations  in  the  land. 

Of  this  gratifying  growth  Dr.  Allison  and  his 
respected  associates  were  permitted  to  be  the 
honored  agents.  It  affords  me  great  pleasure, 
after  having  carefully  reviewed  their  public  spir- 
ited, self-denying,  efficient  and  judicious  labors, 
to  hold  them  up  to  your  veneration  and  grati- 
tude as  the  founders  of  this  church — the  instru- 
ments by  whom  it  was  brought  to  its  highest  out- 
ward prosperity.* 

The  character  of  the  men,  and  the  spirit  that 
actuated  them  may  be  seen  in  the  report  made 
by  the  committee  to  the  congregation,  on  be- 
coming settled   in    this   building,  in  which  they 

*  The  members  of  the  Committee  during  this  period  were 
Messrs.  John  Stevenson,  John  Smith,  William  Lyon,  William 
Buchanan,  William  Smith,  James  Sterret,  William  Spear,  Jonathan 
Plowman,  Dr.  Alexander  Stenhouse,  John  Boyd,  Samuel  Purviance, 
John  Little,  Samuel  Brown,  James  Calhoun,  Robert  Purviance,  Wil- 
liam Neill,  Hugh  Young,  John  Sterrot,  David  Stewart,  Nathaniel 
Smith,  Joseph  Donaldson,  Robert  Gilmor,  William  Patterson,  Chris- 
topher Johnson,  Stephen  Wilson,  John  Swan,  Col.  Samuel  Smith 
and  Dr.  Brown; 


20 

give  a  detailed  history  of  the  administration  of 
its  secular  affairs,  during  the  time  it  had  been 
managed  by  them.  From  this  it  appears  that, 
during  this  period  of  a  little  more  than  twenty- 
eight  years,  two  church  edifices,  besides  the 
original  log  building,  had  been  erected,  one 
of  them  had  been  enlarged,  a  parsonage  had  been 
built,  the  lots  for  these  buildings  and  one  for  a 
burial  ground  had  been  purchased,  the  annual 
salaries  had  been  collected  with  unusual  accura- 
cy, inferior  expenses  had  been  defrayed  without 
applying  to  the  congregation  or  to  the  public 
fund,  and  the  temporalities  of  the  congregation 
brought  into  the  most  flourishing  state.  For 
this  they  disclaimed  any  personal  credit,  ascribing 
it  all  to  the  great  body  of  the  people.  And 
then,  after  stating  that  only*  one  of  their  number 
had  remained  a  member  of  the  committee  from 
first  to  last,  they  add,  "should  it  be  now  al- 
leged that  the  individuals  of  our  body  have 
acted  improperly,  and  might  have  their  places 
better  supplied  ;  should  it  be   feared,  in    these 

c  This  was  Mr.  William  Smith,  who  served  on  the  committee  from 
17(34  to  1814. 


30 

days  of  commendable  jealousy  for  the  rights 
of  man,  that  the  institution  itself  is  defective 
and  ought  to  be  altered  ;  *  *  should  the  so- 
ciety, for  these  or  other  reasons,  desire  to  in- 
troduce a  new  system  and  to  employ  other 
agents,  they  have  an  unquestionable  authority. 
As  members  of  the  church,  a  connection  we 
value  more  than  being  members  of  the  com- 
mittee, we  declare  our  readiness  to  consult,  ad- 
vise and  act  with  our  brethren  in  a  congrega- 
tional capacity  on  whatever  plan  may  be  pro- 
posed for  accomplishing  the  great  design  for 
which  we  have  voluntarily  joined  ourselves 
together  in  a  christian  assembly,  not  questioning 
but  the  harmony,  candor  and  mutual  forbear- 
ance we  have  heretofore  enjoyed  will  continue, 
and  prove  no  less  honorable  to  our  reputation 
than  auspicious  to  our  affairs."  These  were  pre- 
eminently the  men  for  the  times.  Nor  should  it 
ever  be  forgotten,  that  all  that  we  have  since  en- 
joyed as  a  congregation,  we  owe  under  God  to 
their  noble,  self-sacrificing,  successful  labors. 
May  this  people  never  prove  recreant  to  their 
principles,  nor  unworthy  of  their  fame. 


31 

Dr.  Allison  was  a  pastor  worthy  of  such  a  con- 
gregation and  committee.    Coming  here  in  early 
youth,  with  distinguished  talents,  accurate  and 
extensive  culture,  a  firm  friend  of  learning  and 
order,  zealous  for  civil  and  religious  liberty,  but 
eminently  conservative,  he    acquired, ,  during    a 
period  of  nearly  forty  years,  a  reputation  and  in- 
fluence second  to    no    other  in  the  community. 
As  a  preacher,  he  was  rather  didactic  and  argu- 
mentative than  rhetorical.     His  sermons   were 
addressed  to  the  understanding  more  than  to  the 
passions.     Although    he    read    closely,  and    his 
manner  was  not  animated,  his  style  was  yet  so 
chaste,   lucid  and   nervous,  that  his    discourses 
always  awakened  attention  and  interest.     It  was 
however  in  his  aptness  for  public  business  that  he 
stood  especially  pre-eminent.     From  the  origin 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore  he  was  a  leading 
member  of  that  body,  being  its  moderator  during 
the  first  seven  years,  and   taking  a  prominent 
part  in  every  important  measure.     In  the  higher 
judicatories  of    the   church  he  exerted  no    less 
commanding  influence.     Coming  upon  the  stage 
with    the    most  distinguished    lights    that  have 


32 


adorned  the  annals  of  our  church — the  Tenants, 
Gillespie,  Bostwick,  Davies,  Blair,  Rogers, 
Ewing,  Witherspoon,  Nisbet  and  others — men 
renowned  for  learning,  piety  and  influence,  he 
undoubtedly,  says  Dr.  Miller,  held  the  first  rank 
of  American  clergy.  For  the  perspicuity,  cor- 
rectness, sound  reasoning  and  masculine  elo- 
quence of  his  speeches  in  ecclesiastical  assem- 
blies, he  was  long  admired  and  had  scarcely  an 
equal.  Dr.  Stanhope  Smith,  president  of  Prince- 
ton College,  pronounced  him  the  ablest  states- 
man in  our  General  Assembly.  And  the  gene- 
ral estimate  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  church 
at  large,  is  clearly  evinced  by  the  important 
duties  that  were  assigned  to  him.  When  after 
the  revolution  measures  were  taken  for  estab- 
lishing the  Presbyterian  church  in  this  country 
on  its  present  basis,  he  was  made  a  member  of 
almost  every  committee  appointed  to  conduct 
the  business,  viz.  that  to  arrange  the  several  ju- 
dicatories— that  to  revise  our  public  standards — 
that  to  mature  a  system  of  discipline  and  govern- 
ment— and  that  on  psalmody.  The  same  talent  for 
managing  affairs  that  he  displayed  in  the  church, 


was  also  manifested  in  his  relations  as  a  public 
spirited  citizen.  He  was  one  of  the  original  foun- 
ders of  the  Baltimore  College  and  the  Baltimore 
Library,  and  united  in  the  earliest  efforts  here 
made  to  establish  schools.  Trained  too  in  revo- 
lutionary times,  he  was  an  ardent  friend  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty.  The  only  writings  that  he 
ever  printed,  were  a  funeral  discourse  on  Wash- 
ington, and  some  able  newspaper  articles  pub- 
lished over  the  signature,  "Vindex,"  (which  were 
subsequently  printed  in  a  pamphlet,)  against  what 
he  regarded  as  an  attempt  of  a  sister  denomina- 
tion to  be  recognized  as  having  a  legal  relation 
to  the  state.* 

Early  in  1800,  Dr.  Allison's  health  began  to 
fail.  He  became  much  depressed  in  spirits  ;  so 
much  so  that  he  was  induced  to  apply  to  Presby- 
tery for  permission  to  resign  his  charge  and  de- 
mit his  office.       To    this  the  congregation  was 


°  Governor  Paca  had  recommended  to  the  Legislature,  to  make 
some,  provision  for  the  support  of  religion,  and  an  application  to  that 
body  was  regarded  by  Dr.  Allison,  as  an  attempt  to  have  the  Epis- 
copal, whi  ;h  had  been  the  established  church,  still  recognized  as  lidd- 
ing a  special  relation  to  the  state. 

2° 


34 

opposed,  and  urging  him  to  suspend  his  labors 
and  seek  a  restoration  of  his  health,  offered  to 
secure  for  him  an  assistant.  The  Presbytery 
therefore  recommended  him  to  withdraw  his 
resignation.  But  although  his  health  was  tem- 
porarily recruited,  he  soon  relapsed  into  a  deeper 
depression,  and  died  August  21st,  1802.* 

In  the  previous  month  of  February,  Dr.  Inglis 
was  elected  as  assistant  pastor,  by  a  small  major- 
ity over  Dr.  Glendy,  who  was  then  settled  in  or 
near  Staunton,  Ya.f 

"4The  committee  met  as  soon  as  the  melancholy  event  was  made 
known,  and  adopted  measures  suited  to  the  occasion.  It  was  ar- 
ranged that  he  should  he  interred  in  the  Western  burial  ground,  at 
the  expense  of  the  congregation,  at  4  o'clock  on  the  next  afternoon 
which  was  the  Sabbath  ;  and  the  clergy  of  the  city  were  invited  to 
attend  as  pall  bearers.  The  churches  generally  were  closed,  and  the 
ministers  of  the  various  denominations  were  present.  It  was  also  re- 
solved to  erect  a  suitable  monument  in  the  church  as  a  memorial  of 
the  veneration  and  esteem  in  which  this  its  first  vat-tor  uas  held.  Dr. 
Inglis  preached  a  funeral  sermon  on  the  next  Sabbath. 

t  At  a  previous  election,  in  December,  1801,  Dr.  Archibald  Alex- 
ander, subsequently  professor  of  didactic  theology  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  was  chosen.  He  had  been  on  a  tour 
through  New  England,  and  on  his  return  to  Virginia,  passed  a  Sal- 
bath  in  Baltimore,  with  his  friend,  Mr.  Priestly,  and  preached 
in  the  pulpit.  It  being  understood  however  that  a  considerable 
minority  was  opposed  to  him,  under  the  impression  that  his  views  <  n 
the  subject  of  discipline  were  stricter  and  more  rigid  than  those  to 
which  they  had  been  accustomed,  he  declined. 


35 

2.  The  second  period  in  the  history  of  the 
church,  which  was  principally  in  connection  with 
the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Inglis,  was  that  after  it  had 
attained  its  maturity  and  was  firmly  established 
as  an  able  and  influential  congregation.  It  was 
a  period  of  great  outward  prosperity.  We  have 
traced  the  slow  and  gradual  growth  of  the  city  and 
congregation,  through  many  difficulties  and  dis- 
couragements, to  the  time  when  this  edifice  was 
erected.  After  the  revolution,  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution being  adopted,  and  the  national  debt 
funded,  public  and  private  confidence  was  restor- 
ed, and  commerce  revived.  Commercial  houses 
from  Holland,  Hamburg  and  Bremen  were  soon 
established  here,  and  rapidly  drew  nearly  all  the 
tobacco  trade  of  the  state,  which  had  been  pre- 
viously carried  on,  to  a  great  extent,  by  weal- 
thy planters  from  their  own  landings,  like  Elk 
Ridge  Landing.     Flour  too  was  so  largely  ex- 

Dr.  Inglis  graduated  at  Columbia  College,  New  York,  ami  entered 
the  office  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  as  a  student  of  law.  At  the  close 
of  the  three  years  term  of  study  lie  was  admitted  to  the  liar.  But  in 
the  course  of  a  year  he  abandoned  that  profession,  and  commenced 
the  study  of  theology,  under  Dr.  Rodgers,  and  was  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  uf  New  York,  in  1801. 


36 

ported  to  the  West  Indies,  that  Baltimore  be» 
came  one  of  the  largest  flour  markets  in  the 
world,  as  it  is  now  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant. 

The  location  was  peculiarly  favorable  to  com- 
merce, presenting  the  nearest  market  to  the 
western  country,  which  was  then  gradually  fill- 
ing up,  and  concentrating  a  great  proportion  of 
the  trade  of  the  Chesapeake.  The  geological 
features  of  the  country  around  these  head  waters 
of  the  bay  were  found,  moreover,  most  admira- 
bly adapted  to  the  employment  of  water  power. 
The  streams  running  into  the  Chesapeake  at  this 
point  are  numerous,  and  as  the  country  gradu- 
ally rises  in  successive  ridges,  the  waters  fall 
rapidly  in  their  progress  to  the  bay.  So  remark- 
ably is  this  the  case  in  this  neighborhood,  that 
several  of  the  principal  streams  were  denomina- 
ted by  the  first  settlers  Falls  ;  as  Jones'  Falls, 
Gwynn's  Falls,  &c.  It  has  been  asserted  that 
there  is  no  equal  space  of  ground  in  the  United 
States  that  has  more  natural  water  power, 
united  with  so  many  local  facilities,  as  the  circle 
of  thirty  miles  radius  about  Baltimore.     From 


37 

the  Potomac  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  there  are 
very  few  in  comparison ;  and  this  is  true,  to  a 
great  extent,  throughout  the  West.* 

In  connection  with  this  advantage  of  location, 
we  may  notice  that  in  1793,  when  the  revolution 
in  St.  Domingo  took  place,  many  of  the  inhabi- 
tants fled  from  the  Island,  and  fifty-three  ves- 
sels arrived  in  Baltimore,  on  the  9th  of  July, 
with  one  thousand  white,  and  five  hundred 
colored  inhabitants ;  and  in  the  next  three 
months  nearly  as  many  more.  This  proved 
highly  advantageous,  not  only  by  the  accession 
of  such  a  number  of  active,  industrious  people, 
but  by  opening  up  an  almost  exclusive  trade  with 
that  island  when  its  commerce  was  very  profita- 
ble. It  led  also  to  a  very  important  carrying 
trade  with  the  other  West  India  islands.  Europe 
being  involved  in  a  protracted  war,  this  whole 
country,  freed  from  entangling  alliances,  enjoyed 
very  great  prosperity.  The  southern  situation 
of  Baltimore,  and  its  possessing  an  abundance  of 

°  General  Harper  stated  that  a  semi-circle  of  twenty  miles  radius, 
of  which  Baltimore  is  the  centre,  contains  sufficient  water  power  to 
employ  a  million  of  looms. — N.  A.  Eeview,  1825  ;  from  which  some 
of  these  statements  have  been  taken. 


'''  V 

OO 

the  staple  commodities  for  the  West  India  mar- 
ket, gave  it  uncommon  facilities  for  this  trade. 
Ship  building,  in  which  the  Baltimore  artisans 
had  become  peculiarly  adept — constructing  a 
class  of  fast  sailing  clipper  vessels — attained 
great  importance,  and  with  this  all  the  common 
branches  of  business  flourished,  adding  very 
much  to  the  growth  and  wealth  of  the  city. 
And  even  when,  after  the  peace  of  Amiens,  in 
1801,  the  commerce  of  the  country  was  very 
fluctuating — the  continental  system  putting  a 
severe  check  upon  neutral  trade — her  fast  sail- 
ing vessels  afforded  peculiar  advantages  to  this 
port  for  a  traffic  which,  from  its  very  difficulty, 
was  exceedingly  lucrative,  This  state  of  things 
continued,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  of  the 
blockade  of  the  Chesapeake,  till  near  the  year 
1818.  During  this  period  the  city  grew  with  a 
rapidity  almost  unequalled.  Inhabitants  came  in 
from  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  Germany,  Hol- 
land, New  England,  the  Middle  and  Southern 
States  with  a  spirit  of  enterprise,  which  gave 
the  greatest  impulse  to  every  branch  of  business. 
The   population   increased  from   1790   to   1800, 


39 

from  thirteen  to  thirty-six  thousand ;  and  in 
1818  to  sixty  thousand.  Keal  estate  advanced, 
turnpikes  were  built,  banking  was  expanded, 
and  a  spirit  of  reckless  excess  was  engendered, 
which  resulted  in  one  of  those  wide  spread 
revulsions,  which  have,  on  various  occasions 
since,  so  desolated  the  country.  Previous  to 
this  however  the  church  had  become  thoroughly 
consolidated  and  enjoyed  most  remarkable 
outward  prosperity.  The  colony,  which  went  out 
on  the  election  of  Dr.  Inglis  and,  erecting  the 
Second  Church,  called  Dr.  Glencly,  was  large 
and  respectable.  But  the  vacancies  thus  made 
were  soon  filled,  and  the  congregation  continued 
eminently  prosperous.  In  1811  an  organ  was 
introduced  into  the  church,  which  at  first  gave 
some  dissatisfaction,  but  it  soon  passed  away, 
although  one  or  two  valuable  families  left  the 
church. 

The  old  parsonage  which  stood  on  Fayette 
street,  east  of  the  church,  was  removed  for  the 
opening  of  North  street,  which  was  previously 
an  alley,  and  a  new  one  was  erected  on  North 
street,  in  the  rear  of  the  church.  Dr.  Inglis 
however  did  not  live  to  occupy  it. 


40 

During  this  season  of  remarkable  outward 
prosperity  the  spiritual  interests  were  not  over- 
looked, although  the  church  enjoyed  no  such 
revivals  as  distinguished  the  succeeding  pas- 
torate. Measures  however  were  adopted  that 
helped  much,  under  God,  to  prepare  the  way  for 
these  favored  seasons. 

In  1804  the  church  was  for  the  first  time 
regularly  organized,  according  to  the  provisions 
of  the  Form  of  Government  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States,  by  the  election  of 
Messrs.  Robert  Purviance,  David  Stewart,  Chris- 
topher Johnston,  George  Salmon  and  Ebenezer 
Finley,  as  ruling  elders.*  From  this  time  the 
spiritual  interests  of  the  church  seem  to  have 
gradually  improved.     There   were  indeed  many 

i:J  In  1781  the  following  entry  is  found  in  the  Records  of  the  Com- 
mittee :  "The  peculiar  circumstances  of  our"  Society,  at  its  first  for- 
mation, especially  the  small  number  able  and  willing  to  discharge 
public  trusts  therein,  obliged  some  persons  to  fill  different  employ- 
ments, in  the  capacity  of  both  what  are  called  elders  and  deacons  or 
committee  men.  But  our  fespectable  establishment  and  happy  in- 
crease now  furnish  means  of  removing  this  inconvenience.  Be  it 
therefore  remembered  that  the  following  gentlemen,  Dr.  William 
Lyon,  John  Smith,  William  Buchanan,  and  -James  Sterret,  who, 
originally  acted  in  both  these  characters,  being  previously  chosen  by 
the  congregation,  agree  to  serve  under  the  former  (that  of  elders) 


41 

causes  operating  powerfully  to  interfere  with 
the  progress  of  vital  piety.  Never  was  the  ten- 
dency to  infidelity  stronger  in  our  country,  than 
when  Dr.  Inglis  entered  upon  his  ministry  in 
this  church.     The  public  morals  had  been  very 


alone.    And  it  is  agreed  that  persons  be  introduced  into  the  commit- 
tee after  notice  and  by  election. 

In  1804  we  find  another  volume  of  records,  (that  of  the  session,) 
opening  as  follows ;  "Be  it  known,  that  Messrs.  Eobert  Purviance, 
David  Stewart,  Christopher  Johnston,  and  George  Salmon,  having 
been  previously  elected  to  the  office  of  the  Eldership  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Congregation  in  the  City  of  Baltimore,  were,  on  the  first 
day  of  April,  1804,  solemnly  ordained  and  set  apart  to  said  office 
according  to  the  provisions  of  Chapter  xii,  'Form  of  Government  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.'  And  at  the  same  time,  Ebenezer  Finley 
(previously  an  elder  in  Pennsylvania)  was  also  elected."  Records  i  f 
Session. 

In  1802  the  subject  of  the  full  organization  of  the  churches  under  its 
care  had  been  introduced  into  Presbytery,  and  a,  pasti  iral  letter  adopted 
urging  upon  the  churches  the  election  and  ordination  of  elders. 
Previous  to  this  but  few  of  the  churches  in  this  region  seem  to  have 
had  regularly  ordained  ruling  elders,  or  to  have  kept  any  sessional 
records.  The  delegates  that  had  been  sent  from  this  church  to  Pres- 
bytery and  Synod,  were  simply  trustees,  unordained  representatives 
of  the  congregation  ;  nor  were  any  sessional  records  kept  previous 
to  1804.  "About  this  time,"  says  Dr.  Muir  in  his  brief  account  of  the 
Presbytery,  "we  have  at  last  fallen  into  a  degree  of  order,  and  our 
churches  are  organized  according  to  the  directions  of  our  Form  of 
Government.  None  of  late  have  been  ordained  by  us  who  have  not 
at  the  same  time  been  installed,  and  steps  have  been  taken  to 
instruct  our  people  in  forms  of  discipline  and  government,  as 
practiced  by  our  church." 


42 

much  unsettled  by  the  revolutionary  war ; 
French  writings  had  become  very  popular ;  and 
infidelity  was  considered  fashionable.  In  1799 
the  General  Assembly  uttered  its  testimony 
against  the  prevailing  coldness  and  irreligion  in 
a  pastoral  letter.  Christians  were  constrained 
to  renewed  exertions  for  the  preservation  and 
promotion  of  vital  religion.  The  result  was 
seen  in  extensive  revivals,  which  were  extend- 
ing throughout  the  Presbyterian  church  during 
the  whole  of  Dr.  Inglis'  ministry.  And  although 
this  congregation  was  not  then  visited  by 
any  season  of  special  awakening,  the  pre- 
parations for  such  a  blessing  may  be  clearly 
traced. 

In  1809  we  find  the  first  account,  in  the  Pres- 
byterial  minutes,  of  a  free  conversation  on  the 
state  of  religion.  The  subject  of  pastoral  visita- 
tion and  the  religious  instruction  of  the  young 
began  to  engage  more  serious  consideration.  A 
growing  attention  to  spiritual  religion  is  clearly 
perceptible.  In  1814  Messrs.  James  Mosher, 
Thomas  Finley,  David  Boisseau  and  Dr.  Maxwell 
McDowell  were   ordained  elders.     The  session, 


43 

agreeably  to  a  recommendation  of  Presbytery, 
resolved  to  commence  a  Register  of  Baptisms. 
And  in  this  year,  for  the  first  time,  applicants  for 
admission  to  the  church  appeared  before  the 
session,  and  on  being  received  had  their  names 
recorded.  From  this  time  too  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per was  administered  four  times  a  year  instead 
of  twice,  as  had  been  the  case  previously.  The 
Presbyterial  report  of  the  state  of  religion  wTithin 
its  bounds  states  that  public  worship  is  better 
attended  in  all  the  churches,  a  greater  sense  of 
religion  prevails,  family  worship  is  more  general- 
ly practiced,  infidelity  is  less  openly  avowed,  the 
catechism  is  universally  taught  and  meetings 
for  social  prayer  have  been  established.  We 
also  find  the  following  minute  in  our  sessional 
records :  "The  session  having  frequent  occa- 
sion to  remark  the  auspicious  bearing  of  meet- 
ings for  social  prayer  upon  the  religious  state  of 
Presbyterian,  as  well  as  other  congregations, 
deem  it  expedient  to  attempt  the  institution 
and  maintenance  of  such  associations,  and  also 
that  the  pastor  be  authorized  to  express  the 
sense  of  the  session  on  this  and  similar  means  of 


44 

quickening  the  people  in  religion."  In  1815  a 
weekly  lecture  was  instituted,  being  .conducted 
by  the  pastor  on  every  Wednesday  evening,  in 
the  church,  there  being  then  no  lecture  or  ses- 
sion room.  About  the  same  time  Mrs.  Stephen 
Williams,  then  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  church, 
having  during  a  visit  to  Philadelphia  witnessed 
the  happy  effects  of  Sabbath  Schools,  was  the 
means  of  introducing  them  into  Baltimore.  The 
first  was  commenced  by  the  ladies  of  St.  Peter's 
church,  which  was  soon  followed  by  one  under 
the  care  of  the  ladies  of  this  church,  which  was 
held  for  some  time  in  a  room  over  the  engine 
house  in  McClellan's  alley,  and  with  it  was  con- 
nected a  weekly  meeting  for  social  prayer. 

In  December,  1817,  when  the  spiritual  pros- 
pects of  the  church  were  becoming  increasingly 
promising,  Dr.  Inglis  solicited  the  Presbytery  to 
dissolve  his  pastoral  relation  to  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Baltimore,  for  reasons  which 
he  assigned.  The  Presbytery  resolved  that,  if 
the  congregation  consented,  the  request  should 
be  granted,  but  if  they  refused,  the  congregation 
should  be  cited  to  appear  by  commissioners  and 


45 

show  cause  why  they  would  not  consent.  In 
consequence  of  this  resolution,  Dr.  Inglis  called 
a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  Dec.  12th,  1817, 
to  take  his  request  and  the  resolution  of  Pres- 
bytery into  consideration.  At  this  meeting  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  pas- 
tor, to  ascertain  his  reasons  for  the  request. 
This  committee  reported,  as  the  result  of  an  in- 
terview, that  Dr.  Inglis  had  consented  to  con- 
tinue their  pastor,  if  the  congregation  so  desired, 
which  desire  was  at  once  expressed  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  determined  to 
elect  a  new  bench  of  elders,  and  to  make  the 
election  of  these  officers  annual,  as  in  some  of 
the  Reformed  churches.  The  adoption  of  this 
plan,  which,  although  not  necessarily  a  departure 
from  sound  Presbyterianism,  is  nevertheless 
contrary  to  the  constitution  of  our  branch  of  the 
Presbyterian  body,  caused  a  warm  discussion  in 
Presbytery.  That  body  passed  over  the  irregu- 
larity, but  the  Synod  censured  the  Presbytery 
for  so  doing.  And  the  congregation  never  car- 
ried out  the  resolution  to  elect  annually. 


/ 


46 

Dr.  Inglis  died  suddenly  on  Sabbath  morning, 
August  15th,  1819.  Be  was  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  popular  preachers  of  his  day.  "He 
was  largely  gifted,"  says  Mr.  Jonathan  Meredith, 
"with  many  of  the  essential  elements  of  oratori- 
cal power.  His  voice  was  full,  clear,  and  capa- 
ble of  great  varieties  of  modulation.  His  enun- 
ciation was  deliberate  and  distinct,  his  action 
subdued  but  graceful,  always  appropriate  and 
seemingly  unstudied.  His  whole  manner  was 
eminently  dignified  and  impressive.  He  was 
accounted  a  sound  theologian,  a  good  classical 
scholar,  and  familiar  with  the  best  English  liter- 
ature. *  *  He  usually  preached  with  his  ser- 
mon before  him,  but  did  not  confine  himself  to 
it,  the  most  striking  and  eloquent  passages  being 
evidently  extemporaneous."  His  style  was  ex- 
ceedingly concise,  but  clear  and  elegant.  Dr. 
Dwight  spoke  of  him  to  his  class  in  rhetoric,  as 
the  most  signal  instance  of  precision  in  style  that 
he  had  ever  met.  He  possessed  in  a  pre-eminent 
degree  the  talent  of  so  managing  his  voice  and 
action,  as  to  produce  the  most  profound  impres- 
sions with  the  simplest  sentences.     Those  who 


47 

were  accustomed  to  hear  him  testify  that  no 
adequate  conception  can  be  formed  of  the  effect 
of  his  preaching  from  his  published  discourses. 
Dr.  Sprague  represents  him  as  one  of  the  most 
eloquent  preachers  to  whom  he  had  ever  lis- 
tened. Anecdotes  are  related  of  his  eloquence 
which  seem  almost  incredible.  In  private  inter- 
course he  was  cheerful,  affable,  and  eminently 
agreeable.  He  shone  in  conversation,  and  was 
full  of  amusing  anecdotes.  In  the  sick  room  he 
was  extremely  tender  and  faithful,  and  peculiarly 
appropriate  and  happy  in  devotional  exercises. 
Such  indeed  was  his  general  character,  such 
his  power  of  attracting  and  influencing  others, 
that  the  devotion  of  his  people  amounted  almost 
to  idolatry.  The  application  to  Presbytery  to 
dissolve  his  pastoral  relation,  which  cast  a  shade 
over  the  last  days  of  his  ministry,  never  inter- 
rupted for  a  moment  the  affection  of  the  congre- 
gation. 

The  temporal  affairs  of  the  church  during  Dr. 
Inglis'  ministry  were  eminently  prosperous.  In 
addition  to  those  members  of  the  committee  who 
survived  Dr.  Allison,  Col.  Strieker,  Messrs.  Geo. 


48 

Salmon,  James  McHenry,  Amos  Williams,  and 
others  who  will  come  under  subsequent  notice, 
took  an  active  part  in  their  management.  The 
social  position,  the  political  influence,  and  the 
commercial  standing  of  these  gentlemen  gave  to 
the  congregation  under  their  administration  the 
greatest  weight  in  the  community. 

3.  The  third  period  of  the  church,  which  was 
during  the  ministry  of  Dr.  jSTevins,  may  be  char- 
acterized as  that  of  gracious  revival. 

The  rapid  growth,  the  unexampled  prosperity 
of  Baltimore  during  the  period  we  have  just  re- 
viewed, led,  as  has  often  been  the  case,  to  that 
excessive  banking  and  over-trading,  which  soon 
involved  the  community  in  one  of  those  great 
commercial  revulsions  which  spread  devastation 
and  distress  so  widely  over  the  land.  This  hap- 
pened in  1818,  not  long  before  the  death  of  Dr. 
Inglis.  The  value  of  real  estate  was  greatly  re- 
duced, and  the  aspect  of  the  city  is  said  to  have 
given  evident  marks  of  decline.  This  no  doubt 
had  its  influence  in  the  wise  overruling  of  divine 
providence,  as  we  have  seen   a  similar  state  of 


49 

things  recently,  in  impressing  the  minds  of  men 
with  a  sense  of  the  vanity  of  the  world,  and  the 
importance  of  eternal  interests,  and  thus  in  pre- 
paring the  way  for  those  gracious  visitations, 
that  distinguished  the  period  we  are  now  con- 
sidering. 

Before  the  consequences  of  that  commercial 
revulsion  had  entirely  passed  away,  Dr.  Nevins 
was  elected  the  third  pastor  of  this  congregation.* 


*  The  church  continued  vacant  for  about  one  year  after  Dr.  In- 
glis'  death.  During  that  time  the  attention  of  the  congregation  was 
directed  to  several  promising  preachers,  who  had  just  entered  the 
ministry.  Among  these  were  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Larned,  Rev.  Mat- 
thew Bruen  and  Rev.  William  Nevins.  The  predilections  of  the  re- 
spective friends  of  these  gentlemen  were  very  strong,  and  the  first 
election  lasted  two  days.  At  length  the  choice  fell  upon  Mr.  Larned, 
then  recently  settled  in  New  Orleans.  Mr.  Larned  was  highly  grat- 
ified with  the  call,  but  promptly  yielded  to  what  he  regarded 
the  claims  of  duty,  and  signified  his  refusal.  He  had  been  stationed  in 
New  Orleans  by  the  voice  of  the  church.  A  large  and  promising  con- 
gregation had  been  gathered  there  by  his  eloquence,  faithfulness  and 
piety.  And  his  brethren  and  fathers  in  the  ministry  felt,  that  his 
abandoning  the  enterprize  at  that  critical  juncture,  would  peril  its  suc- 
cess. He,  therefore,  stood  firmly  to  his  post  and  became  a  martyr  to 
duty,  falling  a  victim  to  the  climate,  universally  lamented  as  one  of  the 
most  promising  and  eloquent  ministers  ever  raised  up  in  the  Presby- 
terian church.  On  the  second  election,  Mr.  Nevins  was  chosen  pastor 
of  the  congregation  by  a  large  majority,  and  became  the  instrument  of 
?> 


50 

During  the  first  years  of  his  ministry  here 
there  was  nothing  remarkable  in  the  results  of 
his  labors.  Possessing  a  brilliant  imagination,  a 
sound  judgment,  a  refined  taste,  warm  affections 
and  an  ardent  temperament,  his  pulpit  perform- 
ances attracted  general  admiration  and  proved 
highly  gratifying  to  an  intelligent  congregation. 
In  his  social  intercourse  there  was  a  frankness  and 
guilelessness,  a  ready  sympathy  with  others,  that 
rapidly  endeared  him  to  all  classes  of  his  flock. 
A  somewhat  variable  temperament,  and  a  man- 
ner marked  by  great  simplicity,  playfulness  and 
wit,  led  some,  who  met  him  only  casually  at  this 
time,  and  became  subsequently  better  acquainted 
with  him,  to  suppose  that  his  religious  character 
underwent  a  very  important  change  after  the 
first  few  years  of  his  ministry.     And,  unques- 


tho  most  important  spiritual  blessing  to  the  church,  He  was  born 
in  Norwich,  Ct.,  October  17th,  1797.  At  an  early  age  he  applied 
himself  to  commercial  pursuits,  but  soon  abandoned  them  for  a  lib- 
eral education,  and  entered  Yale  College,  where  he  became  hopefully 
converted.  On  leaving  college  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary, 
at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  after  the  regular  course  of  study,  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Association  of  New  Loudon,  Ct.,  Septem- 
ber, 1819.  He  labored  a  short  time  in  Richmond,  Va.  and  settled  in 
Baltimore,  October,  1820. 


51 

tionably,  his  settlement  in  life,  increasing  years, 
the  responsibilities  of  so  important  a  charge,  and, 
above  all,  divine  grace  gradually  sobered  his 
feelings  and  led  to  a  more  rapid  development  of 
his  religious  character.  But  those  who  knew 
him  most  intimately  at  an  earlier  period,  had 
perceived  from  the  first,  evidence  of  the  same 
views  and  experiences  that  characterized  him  at 
this  late  period.  No  one,  says  Dr.  Sprague, 
could  hear  him  pray  in  the  seminary,  without 
being  convinced  that  his  utterances  were  from  a 
heart  accustomed  alike  to  self-communion  and 
godly  sorrow. 

There  were  various  circumstances  which  tended 
to  prepare  the  way  for  these  gracious  seasons  of 
refreshing,  which  rendered  this  the  most  import- 
ant period  in  the  history  of  this  church.  The 
weekly  lecture  and  prayer  meeting,  which  seem 
to  have  been  discontinued  about  the  time  of  Dr. 
Inglis'  death,  Dr.  Nevins  early  revived,  and 
also  secured  the  formation  of  more  private  meet- 
ings for  special  prayer.  The  present  lecture  room, 
(although  at  first  only  half  of  its  present  size,) 
was  erected,  and  the  sabbath  school  removed  to 


52 

it.  About  this  time,  too,  most  remarkable  re- 
vivals were  enjoyed  in  various  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. In  the  District  of  Columbia,  which  was  em- 
braced within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Baltimore,  the  churches  seem  to  have  been  greatly 
awakened.  In  1819  the  Third  Presbyterian 
Church  in  this  city  was  organized,  and  enjoyed 
the  ministrations  of  pastors,  who,  if  not  always 
judicious  in  the  measures  they  employed,  had 
yet  conceived  a  strong  desire  to  promote  a  true 
revival  of  religion.  This  general  subject  was  dis- 
cussed with  increasing  interest  at  the  meetings 
of  Presbytery.  In  the  spring  of  1825  Dr.  John 
Breckinridge  became  the  pastor  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  in  this  city.  He  after  a  short 
time  united  with  Dr.  Nevins  in  establishing  a 
Bible  Class,  embracing  a  large  number  of  young 
men  of  both  congregations,  most  of  whom  sub- 
sequently became  subjects  of  the  revival  in  1827. 
Having  recently  reviewed  that  season  of  refresh- 
ing in  a  discourse  on  "Revivals  in  Baltimore," 
I  take  the  liberty  to  quote  one  or  two  paragraphs : 
"In  March,  1824,  the  Bev.  Mr.  Summerfield, 
whose  brief  mininisterial  career  produced  so  hap- 


53 

py  an  impression  upon  Christians  of  all  evangel- 
ical denominations  in  this  country,  on  his  sec- 
ond visit  to  the  United  States,  was  appointed,  by 
the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
Missionary  in  Baltimore,  where  he  labored  with 
the  greatest  acceptance  during  the  winter  of 
1824-'25,  and  produced  the  profoundest  sensa- 
tion. With  this  remarkable  man  Dr.  Nevins 
formed  a  very  close  intimacy,  which  he  ever  after- 
wards spoke  of  as  one  of  the  most  precious  bless- 
ings of  his  life.  About  the  same  time  his  mind 
became  deeply  exercised  on  the  subject  of  baptiz- 
ing the  children  of  parents  who  did  not  profess 
saving  faith  in  Christ.  After  careful  examination 
and  prayer,  he  became  persuaded  that  such  ad- 
ministration of  the  ordinance  was  unmeaning  and 
unauthorized.  And  he  at  once  determined  to  de- 
cline practicing  any  longer  upon  what  has 
been  styled  the  lax  plan.  In  coming  to  this 
conclusion,  he  clearly  foresaw  that  it  would 
produce  no  little  agitation  in  such  a  congrega- 
tion ;  and  he  even  apprehended  that  it  might 
lead  to  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation. 
But  having  made  up  his  miud,  he  fearlessly  an- 


54 

nounced  his  intentions.  It  was  soon  apparent, 
however,  that  he  was  sustained  by  a  large  major- 
ity of  the  congregation,  although  some  few  left 
the  church  on  this  account,.  This  is  worthy  of 
more  particular  notice,  not  only  because  it  is 
natural  that  such  a  stand  would  lead  those,  thus 
deprived  of  what  they  had  been  accustomed  to 
regard  as  an  invaluable  right,  to  serious  reflec- 
tion, but  also  because  it  has  been  ascertained  that 
it  did  actually  produce  the  first  serious  impressions 
upon  some,  who  afterwards  became  subjects  of  the 
revival.  From  this  time,  too,  one  who  has  carefully 
examined  Dr.  Nevins'  manuscripts,  testifies  that 
there  may  be  discovered  a  decided  increase  of 
solemnity,  directness,  pungency,  and  unction  in 
his  sermons.  And  no  one,  who  peruses  the  touch- 
ing entries  in  his  diary,  can  fail  to  observe  strik- 
ing evidences  of  this  change. 

"Such  was  the  state  of  things  on  Sunday,  March 
7th,  1827.  There  was  no  expectation  beyond 
what  is  implied  in  an  ardent  longing  for  the 
blessing.  There  had  been  no  attempt  to  get  up 
a  revival,  but  a  simple  waiting  upon  God — upon 
him  only.     That  morning  Mr.  Nevins  preached 


55 

from  the  text,  'Now  is  the  accepted  time,  now  is 
the  day  of  salvation.'  The  sermon,  which  is  still 
preserved,  is  plain,  practical,  and  pungent;  but 
not  at  all  remarkable.  It  is  not,  indeed,  equal 
in  power  and  directness  to  many  of  his  other  dis- 
courses. He  was  not  himself  conscious  of  any- 
thing special  in  its  delivery.  He  did  not  even 
discover  anything  unusual  in  the  appearance  of 
the  congregation.  But  it  was  accompanied  with 
the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with  power. 
In  the  interval  between  the  morning  and  after- 
noon services,  the  older  and  more  experienced 
teachers  in  the  sabbath  school  were  surprised  to 
find  a  number  of  the  younger  teachers  and  of  the 
more  advanced  scholars,  who  were  not  profes- 
sors of  religion,  in  the  deepest  anxiety  respect- 
ing their  salvation  ;  so  much  so,  that  it  entirely 
interrupted  the  regular  proceedings  of  the  school. 
At  the  same  time  several  members  of  the  con- 
gregation visited  Mr.  Nevins  at  his  house,  in  a  simi- 
lar state  of  feeling.  The  next  day  and  throughout 
the  week,  wherever  he  went,  he  found  the 
deepest  tenderness  and  anxiety,.  Whole  families 
were  impressed  by  they  knew  not  what.     He  at 


5G 

once  invited  all  such  to  meet  him  at  his  own  res- 
idence on  Monday  evenings.  And  in  the  course 
of  a  few  weeks,  the  spirit  of  inquiry  had  so  spread, 
that  as  many  as  seventy  or  eighty  were  found  in 
attendance  upon  these  meetings  for  counsel  and 
instruction ;  some  in  overwhelming  distress. 

"As  the  immediate  result  of  this  gracious  out- 
pouring, more  than  two  hundred  persons  united 
with  the  two  churches.     Quite  a  number  became 
most   useful — some  of  them  distinguished  min- 
isters of  the  Gospel,     A  large  portion  of  the 
young    men   have   subsequently    become    offi- 
cers  in    the    various    churches    now    existing. 
And    others  have  ever  since  been   among  the 
most   active,  zealous,  and  useful  of  our  church 
members.     Nor  was  the  influence  of  this  revival 
limited  to  these  more  palpable  and  recorded  man- 
ifestations.    It  infused  fresh  life  into  the  church- 
es,   animated    and    encouraged    the    ministers, 
and   gave   a   new  impulse   to  the    cause,    such 
as  it  had  never  before  received.     Sunday  Schools, 
Prayer  Meetings,  and  Tract  Visitation,  were  es- 
tablished  in   various   parts   of    the    city.     The 
Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  was  the  result  of  one 


57 

of  these  enterprises.  Another  was  established  at 
Crook's  factory,  to  which  Mr.  Musgrave  received 
a  call  that  resulted  in  his  useful  settlement  in 
the  Third  Church.  And  altogether  an  amount 
of  good  was  accomplished,  that  will  never  be 
fully  estimated  this  side  of  eternity.  Dr.  Nevins 
testified  on  his  dying  bed,  six  years  afterwards, 
that  he  had  seen  no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  any 
who  had  come  into  the  Church  at  that  time. 
From  that  period,  as  his  diary  shows,  his  con- 
stant anxiety  was  to  labor — agonize,  as  he  says — 
for  a  renewal  of  the  work.  It  manifestly  pro- 
duced in  him  a  deeper  sense  of  dependence  upon 
the  Holy  Spirit,  confidence  in  the  Divine  power 
and  grace,  and  desire  to  be  taught  and  guided  in 
his  ministry  from  above.  When  preaching  his 
tenth  anniversary  sermon,  he  mentioned  that  two 
hundred  and  sixty  had  joined  the  church  under 
his  ministry,  chiefly,  as  he  thought,  through  this 
revival.  In  1831,  the  First  Church  enjoyed  a 
similar  season,  though  neither  so  marked  nor 
extensive." 

I  need  not  now  dwell  further  upon  the  char- 
acter of  that  devoted  servant  of  Christ,  who  was 
3* 


58 

taken  away  from  the  most  promising  prospects 
of  usefulness  in  the  very  dew  of  his  youth.  His 
memory  is  so  fresh  in  the  recollection  of  this  con- 
gregation and  community,  even  after  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  that  his  name  needs  only 
to  be  mentioned,  to  awaken  the  most  tender  and 
grateful  associations. 

Early  in  1835  he  was  constrained  to  leave  his 
charge,  broken  in  health  and  spirits,  in  the  hope 
that  a  sea  voyage  and  a  temporary  cessation 
from  his  arduous  duties,  would  recruit  his  exhaust- 
ed strength.*     These  means  however  proved  en- 


°  In  1832  Dr.  Nevins  had  an  attack  of  bilious  fever,  which  laid  him 
aside  for  more  than  two  months,  but  which  he  felt  had  been  greatly- 
sanctified  to  him.  In  1834  he  was  again  arrested  by  disease.  Inces- 
sant labor  produced  symptoms  of  bronchitis;  he  lost  his  voice,  and  was 
disabled  during  the  whole  summer.  Relaxation  and  travel  however 
had  apparently  recruited  his  wasted  strength,  when  the  sudden  death 
of  an  almost  idolized  wife  by  cholera  again  prostrated  him  in  sick- 
ness, and  prepared  him  for  a  premature  grave.  His  feelings  have  been 
so  touchingly  portrayed  by  his  own  pen  in  his  "Practical  Thoughts" 
and  "Diary,"  that  no  other  need  attempt  to  describe  them.  He  em- 
ployed his  time  during  this  sickness  in  writing  the  articles  for  the  N. 
Y.  Observer  over  the  finals  M.  S.  and  several  tracts,  which  have  had 
an  extensive  circulation.  He  preached  but  once  after  this  time,  on 
the  first  day  of  the  year  1835.  Some  of  his  most  beautiful  and  effec- 
tive discourses  were  delivered  on  New  Year  days.  The  winter  and 
spring  of  this  year  he  spent  in  the  "West  Indies,  without  however  the 


6(J 

tirely  ineffectual.  And  early  in  the  autumn  of 
that  year  he  returned  to  his  desolated  home,  soon 
to  find  a  resting  place  by  the  side  of  his  beloved 
companion  and  child,  who  had  recently  preceded 
him  to  the  grave.  On  the  14th  of  September 
the  "session"  and  "the  committee"  were  sum- 
moned to  record  his  death  with  heartfelt  expres- 
sions of  respect  and  sorrow,  and  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  his  last  obsequies. 

Mr.  William  Taylor  and  Col.  Mosher  were  the 
only  members  of  Session  when  Dr.  Nevins  was 
installed.  In  1829  Dr.  Maxwell  McDowell  was 
re-elected*  to  the  office,  in  connection  with  Mr. 
George  Morris,  previously  an  elder  in  one  of  the 
Presbyterian  churches  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Tay- 
lor resigned  the  next  year,  and  died  shortly  after. 
Col.  Mosher  continued  to  serve  as  the  oldest 
member  of  Session  until  about  1846,  when  at  an 


benefit  anticipated  by  his  friends.  He  returned  only  to  struggle 
patiently  through  the  summer,  and  early  in  the  autumn  breathed  out 
his  soul  in  the  midst  of  a  most  affectionate  and  devoted  people. 

°T)r.  McDowell,  Messrs.  Mosher,  Finley,  and  Boisseau,  then  com- 
prising the  whole  Session,  retired  in  1817.  In  1818  Messrs.  William 
Taylor  and  Col.  Mosher  were  elected. 


60 

advanced  age  he  felt  constrained,  on  account  of 
increasing  infirmities,  to  withdraw  from  the  ac- 
tive duties  of  the  office.  In  1834  Messrs.  David 
Courtnay,  John  N.  Brown,  and  William  L.  Gill 
were  added  to  the  Session.  Mr.  Gill  alone  re- 
mains with  us  at  this  time,  although  the  other 
two  serve  different  Presbyterian  churches  in 
this  city.  Those  last  elected  however  belong 
more  properly  to  the  succeeding  period,  as  they 
came  into  office  only  a  short  time  before  Dr. 
Nevins'  decease. 

Of  Mr.  Morris  and  Dr.  McDowell,  I  may  say 
with  that  filial  affection  and  respect  that  I  ever 
entertained  for  them,  that  few  more  valuable 
ruling  elders  ever  served  any  church.  When  I 
first  came  here,  young  and  inexperienced,  it  was 
my  happiness  to  find  them  the  oldest,  but  still 
active,  members  of  the  session  of  this  church. 
Mr.  Morris,  owing  to  a  natural  reserve  of  dispo- 
sition and  manner,  was  never  as  well  known  by 
the  congregation  generally,  as  it  was  desirable 
that  he  should  have  been.  For  sound  judgment, 
practical  wisdom,  scrupulous  integrity,  unbend- 
ing firmness  in  his  principles,  in  connection  with 


01 

the  humblest  modesty,  the  most  ardent  philan- 
thropy, and  the  most  devoted  piety,  I  have 
never  known  his  superior  in  the  offiee.  He  had 
an  accurate  and  comprehensive  acquaintance 
with  our  system  of  doctrine  and  polity,  both  in 
theory  and  practice,  and  ever  proved  a  judicious 
and  prudent  counsellor.  Dr.  McDowell  was  a 
worthy  associate.  Differing  in  many  traits  of 
character  and  manner,  they  were  united  in  views 
and  affection  ;  and  ever  exerted  the  most  happy 
influence  in  our  sessional  meetings.  It  is  a 
source  of  unfeigned  gratitude  to  me,  that  my 
early  ministry  was  exercised,  and  my  pastoral 
character  formed,  in  connection  with  two  such 
men. 

4.  This  brings  us  to  the  period  of  the  last 
pastorate,  which  has  been  more  particularly 
characterised  by  the  development  of  those  activ- 
ities of  the  congregation  in  the  departments  of 
church  extension  and  general  christian  benevo- 
lence, for  which  the  previous  periods  had  so  re- 
markably prepared  the  way.  During  the  pre- 
ceding ministries  the  church  had  attained  a  po- 


62 

sition  of  great  influence  in  the  denomination  and 
community  to  which  it  belongs.  Since,  it  has 
had  but  little  else  to  do  than  to  set  in  order  and 
employ  the  materials  of  usefulness,  with  which  it 
had  been  so  liberally  provided.  As  the  business 
of  acquiring  wealth  is  not  always  most  favorable 
to  its  expenditure,  (the  habits  of  mind  being  for 
the  most  part  opposite,)  so  that  of  establishing 
and  consolidating  such  a  congregation  does  not 
always  allow  of  the  most  efficient  efforts  abroad. 
The  present  generation  however  became  the 
heirs  of  no  small  measure  of  material  and  spirit- 
ual wealth,  for  the  employment  of  which  the 
providence  of  God  soon  afforded  the  most  abun- 
dant opportunities  and  calls.  Hence  is  that  say- 
ing true,  one  soweth,  another  reapeth.  I  sent 
you,  said  the  Saviour  to  his  disciples,  to  reap 
that  whereon  ye  bestowed  no  labor :  other  men 
labored  and  ye  are  entered  into  their  labors. 
When  the  present  pastor*  entered  upon  the 


*  In  December,  1835,  he  passed  through  Baltimore  on  his  way  to 
New  Orleans,  in  the  service  of  our  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  and 
preached  in  the  church  without  the  slightest  expectation  of  ever  see- 
ing the  place  again.  In  the  February  following  the  Session,  having 
received  a  request  from  a  sufficient  number  of  the  congregation,  con- 


G3 

duties  of  this  charge,  he  found  here  General 
Samuel  Smith,  Messrs.  Robert  Smith,  Robert 
Gilmor,  James  Buchanan,  Alexander  Fridge, 
Alexander  McDonald,  Judges  Nisbet  and  Purvi- 
ance,  Messrs.  George  Brown,  James  Swan, 
James  Cox,  James  Armstrong,  James  Camp- 
bell, and  Robert  Purviance,  who  were,  or  had 
been,  members  of  "the  committee" — all  now 
among  the  dead.    Barely  to  mention  their  names 

vened  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  going  into  an  election  of  pastor, 
if  the  way  should  be  clear.  That  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  11th 
of  April,  when  the  present  incumbent  was  chosen,  and  having,  after 
no  little  deliberation,  and  with  great  misgiving  accepted  the  call,  was 
installed  September  15th,  1836,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Miller  of  Princeton, 
preaching  the  sermon.  On  looking  back,  I  am  amazed  at  the  temer- 
ity of  the  step.  Young,  inexperienced,  and  with  no  capital,  men  of 
far  higher  gifts  might  have  shrunk  from  following  such  pastors  as 
had  previously  served  the  congregation — one  of  the  most  intelligent, 
influential,  and  responsible  in  the  denomination.  But  all  who  had 
preceded  me  had  come  as  young  men  to  this  as  their  first  charge, 
and  (through  that  delicate  consideration  and  generous  forbearance 
which  so  often  distinguish  intelligent  and  refined  congregations)  had 
remained  through  their  entire  ministry — a  fact  nearly  unparalleled 
in  our  country.  And  I  cannot  but  hope  that,  notwithstanding  my 
fear  and  trembling  in  accepting  the  call,  I  was  guided  by  a  kind  and 
wise  Providence,  who  makes  use  of  earthen  vessels  that  the  excellency 
of  the  power  may  be  of  God  and  not  of  us.  By  divine  grace  I  have 
continued  to  this  day,  having  been  spared  in  the  office  for  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century — a  longer  period  than  any  of  the  pastors  of  the 
church,  with  the  exception  of  the  first,  and  being  new  among  the 
oldest  pastors  in  the  city. 


04 

is  a  sufficient  indication  of  the  character   and 
position  of  the  church  in  the  community,  as  they 
were  distinguished  in  the  highest  walks  of  civil, 
political,  commercial  and  social  life,  with  a  repu- 
tation in  these  various  departments  that  gave 
lustre,  not  only  to  the  congregation,  but  to  this 
city  and  country.     They  were    the    connecting 
links  between  the  earliest  and  the  latest  periods 
of  the  congregation — its  feeble  infancy   and  its 
matured  manhood.    Most,  if  not  all  of  them,  had 
listened  to  every  pastor  the  church  has  had  dur- 
ing the  first  century  of  its  existence.     They  had 
borne   with  the   fathers  the  heat  and  burden  of 
its  struggling  into  existence.     They  had  minis- 
tered   by  their   wealth    and  social   position    to 
its  highest  outward  prosperity.     They  had  wit- 
nessed its  doubtful  beginnings,  its  fullest  strength, 
and    its    widest   influence.     It  would  afford  me 
the  greatest  satis  faction  to  be  able  to  dwell  more 
minutely  upon    their   invaluable    services.      As 
however  this  is  impracticable  on  the  present  oc- 
casion, I  may  be  permitted  to  single  out  two  or 
three  as  specimens,  not  indeed  to  claim  for  them 
any  pre-eminence  in  such  a  galaxy,  but  because 


65 

of  their  peculiar  relations  to  the  history  of  the 
church. 

General  Samuel  Smith  was  then  the  oldest 
living  "committee  man"  or  trustee  of  the  con- 
gregation, having  been  elected  in  1782,  before 
the  erection  of  the  edifice  we  are  just  leaving. 
He  was  a  true  representative  of  the  old  school  of 
soldiers,  politicians,  and  merchants.  Having 
during  the  revolution  fought  bravely  the  bat- 
tles of  his  country,  and,  during  the  most 
remarkable  period  of  the  rise  and  progress 
of  our  city,  attained  the  first  rank  among  her 
merchant  princes,  and  then  filled  the  highest 
political  positions  in  the  city,  state  and  gen- 
eral governments,  he  brought  to  the  committee 
an  intelligence,  energy,  resolution  and  executive 
talent,  which,  while  they  rendered  him  the  man 
for  emergencies,  gave  him  the  most  commanding 
influence  and  control. 

Mr.  Alexander  Fridge  was  elected  in  1814,  in 
the  place  of  Mr.  William  Smith,  who  had  held  the 
office  since  the  organization  of  the  congregation 
in  1761 — a  period  of  more  than  fifty  years — 
connecting   the  present   ministry  directly  by  a 


60 

single  link  with  the  very  founders  of  the  church. 
Mr.  Fridge  came  here  in  time  to  be  identified 
with  the  most  rapid  growth  of  the  city  and  con- 
gregation. Liberally  educated  in  a  university 
of  the  Old  World,  (in  the  class  with  Sir  James 
Mcintosh  and  Robert  Hall,)  with  sound  judg- 
ment and  unsullied  integrity,  he  became  a  most 
successful  merchant.  I  found  him  just  recently 
retired  from  active  business.  A  kinder,  more 
unselfish,  philanthropic  heart  never  beat.  The 
unfortunate  poor,  the  forlorn  stranger,  the  me- 
chanic out  of  employment,  the  young  man  start- 
ing in  life  without  friends  or  patrons,  always 
found  in  him  an  active,  liberal,  kind  friend, 
counsellor,  and  helper.  It  was  however  in  rela- 
tion to  the  benevolent  operations  of  the  church, 
that  his  influence  at  that  particular  time  was 
most  important.  He  always  manifested  the 
warmest  and  most  efficient  interest  in  every 
secular  and  religious  charity,  and  never  held 
back  from  any  good  work.  His  character,  posi- 
tion, and  influence  rendered  one  having  such 
views  and  feelings  a  most  important  instrument 
in    forming    and   establishing    that    benevolent 


67 

character,  for  which  the   congregation  has  been 
somewhat  distinguished. 

One  other  name  must  be  mentioned,  and  it  is 
with  a  tenderness  of  regret,  in  which  all  who 
hear  me  will  sympathise,  as  under  a  recent  afflic- 
tion.    To  Mr.  George  Brown  this  congregation 
owes,  under    God,  more  perhaps    than   to  any 
other   person   for   its    present  position    in  this 
community.     With    his    name    its    reputation, 
influence,   and  usefulness    are    most  intimately 
identified.     Elected  a  member  of  "the  commit- 
tee" in  1825,  he  served  the  congregation  in  this 
capacity,    with    an    assiduity   and    faithfulness 
second    to    no     other,    for    nearly    thirty-five 
years.     During  this  last  period  of  the  history  of 
the    church   now   under   review,    he    withdrew 
gradually  from  the  pressure  of  active  business, 
and  gave  himself  increasingly  to  the  promotion  of 
those  various  benevolent  enterprises  demanded 
by  our  age,  till  he  came  to  be  almost  universally 
looked  to  in  all  such  undertakings.     He  not  only 
contributed    liberally  of  his   large  wealth,  but 
also  by  his  counsels  and  active   services.     The 
contributions  of   this  church  to  our  Boards  of 


68 

Missions,  Education,  &c,  as  well  as  to  the  other 
benevolent  objects  of  the  day,  were  largely  made 
up  of  his  gifts.  And  in  the  work  of  extending 
the  church  in  this  city  and  vicinity,  as  well  as  in 
more  remote  parts  of  our  country,  to  no  other 
person  have  we  been  more  indebted.  The  new 
church  edifice  especially  will  be  always  identi- 
fied with  his  name.  Only  those  however  who 
were  associated  with  him  in  carrying  it  on,  will 
ever  know  how  much  it  owes  under  God  to  his 
wisdom  and  prudence,  his  untiring  vigilance,  his 
important  encouragement  and  timely  assistance. 
Present  circumstances  forbid  me  to  say  more, 
less  could  not  be  said  in  faithfulness  to  this 
review. 

Such  are  specimens  of  the  men,  who  composed 
and  gave  character  to  "the  committee"  at  the 
commencement  of  the  present  pastorate.  Gen- 
eral Smith  was  the  venerable  representative  of 
the  old  era ;  Mr.  Fridge  of  the  transition  period  ; 
and  Mr.  Brown  of  that  in  which  we  are  now  liv- 
ing. Each  had  its  special  characteristics  and 
mission,  not  exclusively,  but  predominantly. 
And  each  in  succession  constituted  the  prepara- 
tion for  what  was  to  come  after. 


09 

The  first  duty  to  which  the  church  seemed  es- 
pecially called  in  this  last  period,  after  having 
become  so  firmly  established,  so  greatly  pros- 
pered in  outward  respects,  and  so  graciously  re- 
vived as  to  its  spiritual  life,  was  its  own  enlarge- 
ment and  extension  in  this  community  and 
vicinity,  and  the  further  development  of  its 
practical  benevolence  through  the  various  agen- 
cies for  advancing  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  that 
distinguish  our  day.  Not,  by  any  means,  that  it 
had  heretofore  ignored  these  duties.  The  obli- 
gation was  recognized  from  the  beginning.  Dr. 
Allison,  the  first  pastor,  preached  in  the  country 
one-fourth  of  his  time  for  some  years  ;  and  re- 
linquished that  service  only  to  meet  the  growing 
wants  in  old  town,  where  he  subsequently  held 
frequent  services,  before  there  was  any  Presby- 
terian Church  there.  When  the  election  of  Dr. 
Inglis,  as  the  assistant  and  successor  of  Dr.  Alli- 
son, gave  rise  to  some  dissatisfaction  on  the  part 
of  Dr.  G-lendy's  friends,  the  going  out  of  that  large 
and  influential  minority,  to  form  the  Second 
Church,  was  greatly  facilitated  by  the  previous 
labors  of  Dr.  Allison   in   that  part  of  the  city. 


70 

And  as  that  was  the  period  of  Baltimore's  most 
rapid  growth,  both  churches  were  soon  most  res- 
pectably filled.     An  enterprise  partaking  more 
entirely  of  a  church   extension,  and  even  mis- 
sionary character,  was  some  years  after  attempted 
in  the  western  part  of  the  city.    This,  (the  Third 
Church,*  in  Eutaw  street,)  was  however  so  feebly 
undertaken  and  so  imprudently  managed  in  its 
earlier   years,  that  although   begun  in   1819,  it 
amounted  to  very  little  till  after  Dr.  Musgrave 
took  charge  of  it  in  1830.    About  the  year  1831 
Mr.  Alexander  Fridge,  Mr.  James  Campbell  and 
others  made  an  effort  to  form  a  new  congrega- 
tion and  call  the  Kev.  John  Harris,  then  a  young 
minister,  of  very  distinguished  talents,  eloquence 
and   popularity,  as  a  preacher.     He  had   been 
raised  in   the    congregation,  and   was    recently 
from  the  seminary.     The  First  Baptist  Church, 
in  Sharp  street,  then  heavily  in  debt,  was  about 
to  be  sold,  and  these  gentlemen  proposed  to  pur- 
chase it.     But  before  the  arrangement  was  com- 
pleted, the  friends  of  the  Baptist  church  relieved 

8  See  a  brief  account  of  this  church  in  the  discourse  on  "Iievivals 
in  Baltimore,"  before  referred  to. 


71 

it  from  the  embarrassments  on  account  of  which 
it  was  to  have  been  sold,  and  Mr.  Harris  having 
accepted  an  invitation  to  New  Orleans,  the  pro- 
ject was  abandoned.  It  seems  that  some  of  the 
congregation  thought  that  the  church  was  not 
prepared  to  send  off  such  a  colony.  Dr.  Mus- 
grave  had  recently  undertaken  to  recuscitate  the 
Third  Church,  which  it  was  supposed  would  re- 
quire all  the  aid  that  could  be  afforded  ;  espe- 
cially as  many  of  the  most  active  members  had 
but  recently  come  into  the  church  in  the  late  re- 
vivals, and  needed  to  be  kept  together  for  some 
time. 

In  a  year  or  two  after  this,  it  wTas  deter- 
mined to  erect  a  Sabbath  School  in  what  was 
then  the  extreme  western  part  of  Baltimore.  In 
1833,  Messrs.  Alexander  Brown,  George  Brown, 
and  Alexander  Fridge  gave  the  lots  on  which  the 
Fourth  Church  now  stands.  It  was  proposed  to 
erect  a  small  building  for  a  Sabbath  School  on 
the  rear  of  the  lot,  with  the  intention  of  erect- 
ing a  church  edifice  on  the  front  at  some  subse- 
quent day.  The  enterprise  however  was  in 
some    way    mismanaged.      Dr.    Nevins,  having 


72 

been  taken  sick,  could  not  give  to  it  his  personal 
oversight,  and  those  to  whom  it  had  been  en- 
trusted in  his  absence  from  the  city,  commenced 
a  far  more  expensive  building  than  had  been  con- 
templated, and  the  funds,  which  had  been  col- 
lected for  the  purpose,  were  exhausted  before  the 
walls  were  up.  Messrs.  Alexander  and  George 
Brown  had  to  advance  about  two  thousand  dol- 
lars ;  and  a  ground  rent  of  a  thousand  dollars 
had  also  to  be  created,  before  the  roof  could  be 
put  on  and  the  floors  laid.  It  remained  for  some 
years  in  this  unfinished  condition.  In  the  mean 
time  the  Rev.  S.  Gruiteau  gathered  a  small  con- 
gregation and  promising  Sabbath  School.  But 
some  months  after  he  became  persuaded  that  in 
the  unfinished  state  of  the  building  there  was 
very  little  prospect  of  forming  a  good  church, 
and  he  relinquished  the  enterprise. 

Such  was  the  state  of  our  churches  in  Balti- 
more at  the  commencement  of  the  period  now 
under  review.  About  this  time  (1837)  the  Pres- 
byterian denomination,  after  a  protracted  con- 
troversy between  what  were  styled  the  Old 
and  New  Schools,  was  divided  into  two  bodies. 


And  when  the  attention  of  the  churches  was  di- 
verted from  the  strife  with  which  they  had  been 
agitated  for  ten  or  more  years7  and  which  ter- 
minated in  this  disruption,  they  began  to  engage 
in  more  agreeable,  if  not  more  appropriate 
work.  A  spirit  of  church  extension  was  waked 
up  throughout  the  entire  Presbytery.  Commit- 
tees were  appointed  to  visit  various  portions  of 
the  Presbyterial  bounds,  for  the  purpose  of 
strengthening  feeble  churches,  organizing  con- 
gregations in  destitute  places,  and  seeking  in 
other  ways  the  promotion  of  religion.  In  a  few 
years,  old  and  extinct  churches  had  been  resus- 
citated, new  ones  organized,  and  houses  of  wor- 
ship erected  in  fifteen  or  twenty  different  places 
within  the  territorial  limits  of  the  Presbytery. 
In  this  useful  work,  this  congregation  was  per- 
mitted to  take  an  important  part. 

It  was  soon  felt  however  that  the  most  stren- 
uous exertions  were  necessary,  to  keep  pace  with 
the  rapid  increase  of.  population  in  the  city 
itself.  In  1837  the  Rev.  George  D.  Purviance 
took  charge  of  the  Fourth  Church,  which 
had  remained  in  an  entirely  unfinished  state. 
4 


74 

Through  the  influence  of  his  personal  friends 
in  this  congregation,  it  was  completed  and  fur- 
nished in  a  neat  and  tasteful  manner,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  between  one  and  two  thousand  dollars. 
A  congregation  was  gathered,  to  which  he  min- 
istered gratuitously  with  great  kindness  and 
assiduity,  until  the  failure  of  his  health  compelled 
him  to  desist  from  preaching.  As  that  congre- 
gation had  never  been  incorporated,  the  pro- 
perty continued  in  "the  committee"  of  this 
church.  On  their  purchasing  out  the  ground 
rent,  Mr.  Brown  very  generously  and  unsolici- 
ted, relinquished  his  claim,  amounting  to  about 
twenty-seven  hundred  dollars.  Within  the  last 
few  years  this  Fourth  Church  has  been  again 
greatly  revived  under  the  efficient  ministry  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Lefevre. 

In  the  autumn  of  1840,  Messrs.  John  Rodgers, 
David  Stewart,  and  John  Falconer  were  elected 
elders :  and  Messrs.  Henry  C.  Turnbull,  John  Has- 
kell, Moses  Hyde,  and  Lancaster  Ould,  deacons. 
Early  in  the  next  year  they  were  ordained ;  and 
in  the  sessional  conferences,  in  which  the  deacons 
took  part,  a  new  impulse  was  given  to  the  activ- 


75 

ities  of  the  church.  The  subject  of  colonizing 
formed  a  prominent  topic  of  discussion.  And  it 
was  soon  determined  to  make  an  effort  to  build 
a  new  church  somewhere  near  the  Cathedral. 

Before  however  any  plans  were  matured,  it 
was  understood  that  the  Second  Church  also 
contemplated  colonizing.  Apprehending  that 
the  attempt  to  carry  on  two  such  enterprises  at 
the  same  time  would  endanger  the  success  of 
both,  a  proposition  was  made  to  unite  on  one  at 
a  time ;  and  as  the  enterprise  in  old  town  was 
the  smallest,  and  therefore  most  easily  managed, 
it  was  deemed  best  to  commence  with  that — 
especially  as  the  population  in  that  part  of  the 
city  was  large  and  increasing,  and  we  had  but 
one  Presbyterian  church  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Falls.  Accordingly,  in  November,  1842,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  pastors,  elders,  and  deacons  of  the 
First  and  Second  Presbyterian  Churches  was 
convened  in  our  Parsonage,  on  North  street; 
and  after  mutual  conference,  the  measure  was 
determined  upon,  a  subscription  was  opened, 
committees  were  appointed,  and  all  the  requisite 
preliminary  steps  taken  for  erecting  the  Aisquith 


76 

Street  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  completed 
in  1844.*  And  although  it  had  for  a  few  years 
to  struggle  with  some  difficulties,  it  is  now  in  a 
most  nourishing  condition,  and  accomplishing  a 
most  important  work.  The  colony  was  princi- 
pally from  the  Second  Church ;  but,  one  of  the 
elders,  one  of  the  deacons,  and  some  twenty  or 
thirty  members  of  this  church,  formed  a  very 
important  part  of  that  interesting  enterprise. 

Before  however  that  church  was  completed, 
some  few  members  of  this  congregation  began 
to  consult  about  erecting  what  afterwards  be- 
came the  Franklin  Street  Church.  The  improve- 
ments in  that  part  of  the  city  were  going  on  very 
rapidly.  At  first,  Mr.  William  F.  Murdoch,  Dr. 
George  Gibson,  and  Mr.  C.  A.  Schaeffer,  were 
the  only  ones  who  took  an  active  part  in  the 
enterprise.  These  gentlemen  met  from  time  to 
time  in  the  old  parsonage,  to  confer  upon  the 
subject.  One  evening  they  were  joined  by  Mr. 
Robert  Campbell,  when  having  learned  that  the 

*  Subsequently  this  congregation  united  in  a  successful  effort  to 
purchase  a  most  desirable  parsonage  for  that  church,  and  also  aided 
in  building  a  new  lecture  room  for  the  congregation  in  the  rear  of  the 
church. 


77 

lot  on  which  that  church  now  stands,  was  offered 
for  sale  by  Mr.  Robert  Gilmor,  although  only 
about  ten  or  twelve  thousand  dollars  had  been 
collected  for  the  purpose,  it  was  determined  to 
accept  the  offer.  Some  objections  were  at  first 
made  to  this  by  persons,  who  having  selected 
the  lot  for  another  church,  had  subsequently  re- 
linquished it,  but  Mr.  Gilmor  disregarded  them, 
and  adhered  to  his  agreement.  After  the  pur- 
chase of  the  lot,  Messrs.  Joseph  Taylor,  Francis 
Foreman,  James  George,  William  Beatty,  John 
Bigham,  Samuel  Mactier,  and  Alexander  Brown, 
were  added  to  the  committee.  Plans  were  ob- 
tained from  Carey  Long,  Esq.,  and  the  building 
was  commenced,  and  after  two  years,  brought  to 
a  completion  in  1846.  Although  the  cost  was 
somewhat  greater  than  had  been  expected,  yet 
the  location  was  found  to  be  most  eligible,  and 
on  the  church  being  opened  for  divine  service,  a 
large  sale  of  pews  was  made  and  a  numerous  and 
influential  congregation  gathered.  A  colony, 
consisting  of  two  elders,  two  deacons,  seventy 
church  members,  and  the  families  connected 
with  them,  went  out  from  this  congregation  to 


78 

form  that  church.  Seldom  has  a  more  promis- 
ing colony  gone  forth.  It  was  composed,  not  of 
the  aged,  the  weak,  the  lame,  the  halt,  but,  as 
all  genuine  sacrifices  should  be,  of  the  firstlings 
of  the  flock,  of  the  very  flower  of  the  congrega- 
tion. They  went,  not  because  of  any  dissatisfac- 
tion with  the  old  church,  (some  of  the  most  effi- 
cient members  of  the  building  committee,  as  my 
venerable  friend  Joseph  Taylor  and  others,  ex- 
pected to  remain  behind,)  but  gave  their  time, 
money,  and  labors  to  the  enterprise,  with  a  sim- 
ple desire  to  extend  Presbyterianism  in  our 
city. 

It  was  however  a  disruption  of  very  tender 
ties,  and  much  more  painful  than  those  who  have 
not  gone  through  a  similar  operation  would  be 
likely  to  suppose.  Indeed,  when  it  was  realized 
how  large  and  valuable  the  colony  was,  we  were 
not  unfrequently  sympathized  with  and  even 
pitied,  as  if  the  glory  had  departed  from  the  old 
First  Church;  and  I  acknowledge  I  sometimes 
felt  that,  considering  the  weakness  of  poor  hu- 
man nature,  those  who  had  promoted  the  enter- 
prise, against  all  private   interests  and  feelings, 


79 

for  the  general  good,  had  behaved  with  consid- 
erable magnanimity.  And  I  have  reason  to 
know  that  few  took  greater  satisfaction  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  new  enterprise.  They  would  not 
have  changed  anything,  they  would  not,  if  they 
could,  have  recalled  a  single  member,  however 
sad  it  was  to  part  with  valued  helpers.  And  we 
may  be  permitted  to  testify,  as  the  result  of  this 
and  other  similar  movements;  that  God  may  be 
safely  trusted  to  take  care  of  the  interests  of 
those,  who  with  generous  self-sacrifice  engage  in 
his  service  and  seek  to  promote  his  cause.  This 
church  is  a  standing  monument  and  proof,  that 
public  spirit  is  not  only  the  duty  of  individuals 
and  congregations,  but  their  wisest  policy,  under 
God's  government. 

After  the  colony  had  gone  out  to  form  the 
Franklin  Street  Church,*  this  congregation  re- 
solved to  remodel  their  own  church  edifice ;  re- 
moving the  pulpit  to  the  opposite  end,  and  turn- 


°  While  that  enterprise  was  going  on,  this  congregation  was  called 
upon  to  assist  the  Second  Church,  from  which  some  of  the  Franklin 
Street  Church  had  come,  in  erecting  the  Broadway  Church.  This 
being  a  smaller  undertaking  was  completed  first. 


80 

ing  round  the  pews.     The  floor,  which  used  to 
be  of  brick,  and  which  had  to  me  when  I  first 
came  here  an  appearance  of  the  most  primitive 
simplicity,  so  much  so  that  I  gave  the  committee 
no  rest  till  they  consented  to  hide  it  by  a  carpet, 
was  removed   and   a  new  floor  of  wood,  raised 
some  eighteen  inches  on  sleepers,  was   substi- 
tuted.     The  four  wood  stoves  that  Mr.  John 
Spence    the  sexton  used    always  to  stir  up  so 
vigorously   before   sermon,   were   removed,  to- 
gether with  their  unsightly  pipes,  and  a  furnace 
was  placed  in  the  cellar.     A  new  and  valuable 
organ  was  procured,  principally  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  the  ladies.     Mr.  Spence's  green 
arm  chair  was  no  more  to  be  seen.     That  fea- 
ture of  the  old  regime  I  greatly  missed.    When  I 
first  came  here,  a  young  man,  the  sexton  in  that 
arm  chair,  with  his  hymn  book  and  rattan,  direct- 
ly in  front  of  the  pulpit,  inspired  me  with  an  awful 
reverence.     I  am  not  sure  that  I  did  not  some- 
times look  around,  when  I  made  any  slip,  to  see 
if  he  was  not  after  me.     These  changes  gave  a 
new   spring   to    the   congregation.     While    the 
young  colonies  prospered,  our  own  church  grad- 


81 

ually  resumed  its  wonted  appearance.  And  al- 
though in  a  part  of  the  city  that  was  being  rapid- 
ly occupied  by  places  of  business  in  the  stead  of 
dwellings,  we  had  in  three  years  not  only  paid 
for  our  improvements,  amounting  to  ten  thous- 
and dollars,  paid  oft*  a  long  standing  debt  of  five 
thousand,  but  our  income,  according  to  the  re- 
port of  the  treasurer,  was  greater  than  it  had 
ever  been  before.     So  much  for  colonizing. 

At  this  time,  Mr.  George  Morris  and  Dr.  Max- 
well McDowell  having  deceased,  and  Mr.  John 
Falconer  and  Dr.  David  Stewart  having  gone 
with  the  Franklin  street  colony,  Mr.  William  W. 
Spence  and  Mr.  William  B.  Canfield  were  elected 
elders.  The  next  measure  to  which  attention 
was  turned,  was  the  purchase  of  a  very  neat  and 
substantial  church,  (recently  erected  by  a  Baptist 
congregation,  in  the  most  desirable  part  of  the 
city.)  for  our  colored  people — as  handsome  a 
structure,  I  venture  to  assert,  as  is  occupied  by 
any  colored  congregation  in  the  land ;  frescoed 
after  the  Egyptian  order,  in  the  highest  style  of 
art,  and  furnished  with  damask  cushions  and  every 
comfort.  In  this  enterprise  we  had  the  co-ope- 
4* 


82 

ration  of  some  of  the  other  churches.  That  con- 
gregation, after  some  hard  struggles,  is  now  in  a 
most  nourishing  condition,  under  a  talented,  ed- 
ucated colored  preacher,  and  with  a  most  effi- 
cient Sabbath  School,  in  which  a  number  of  our 
church  members  are  engaged  as  teachers.* 

In  the  autumn  of  1850,  the  need  of  a  church 
in  the  western  part  of  our  city  was  beginning 
to  be  deeply  felt.  And  when  the  friends  of 
the  movement  were  looking  for  a  suitable  lot, 
it  was  suggested  that  a  church  might  be  erected 
on  the  grave  yard  of  this  congregation,  on  the 
corner  of  Greene  and  Fayette  streets,  without 
interfering  with  the  sacred  purposes  to  which 
that  hallowed  spot  had  been  consecrated,  and  so 
as  to  prevent  the  ground  from  ever  being  divert- 
ed to  other  uses.  This  was  felt  to  be  the  more 
desirable,  as  the  remains  of  the  founders  of  Pres- 
byterianism  in  this  city,  of  all  the  previous  pas- 
tors, and  of  many  of  the  most  valuable  members 

*  We  have  recently  undertaken  to  pay  off  a  ground  rent  of  twelve 
hundred  dollars  on  that  church,  and  to  purchase  for  it  a  suitable  2>ftr- 
sonage,  which  have  been  nearly  effected.  In  few  measures  do  I  more 
rejoice  than  in  this  discharge  of  a  most  important  obligation  to  this 
dependent  class  of  our  population, 


S3 

of  this  congregation  there  repose.  Accordingly 
Messrs.  Joseph  Taylor,  Alexander  Murdoch, 
Archibald  Stirling,  Dan.  Holt,  William  W. 
Spence,  William  B.  Canfield,  and  the  pastor  of 
this  church,  with  Messrs.  M.  B.  Clarke,  John 
Falconer,  E.  H.  Perkins,  and  John  Bigham,  of 
the  Franklin  Street  Church,  and  Mr.  A.  Fenton, 
associated  themselves  together  for  this  purpose. 
The  ground  was  broken  July,  1851,  and  the 
building  completed  in  one  year,  being  opened 
for  divine  service  July  4th,  1852.*  This  church 
has  proved  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  useful 
in  our  body.  Under  its  two  most  able  and  ac- 
complished pastors  it  has  enjoyed  a  degree  of 
prosperity  second  to  no  other  in  our  city ;  and 
now  constitutes  a  most  important  element  of  our 
denominational  strength  here. 

The  success  of  these  various  undertakings 
greatly  encouraged  our  people  in  this  good  work 
of  church  extension.  The  teachers  of  our  Sab- 
bath School  having  collected  a  large  number  of 


°  A  more  particular  account  of  this  enterprise  is  given  in  the  dis- 
course delivered  at  the  dedication  uf  the  church,  and  which  was  pub- 
lished soon  after. 


84 

scholars  from  Federal  Hill,  found  that  to  be 
a  most  destitute  part  of  our  city.  This  led  to 
their  securing,  through  the  Ladies'  Missionary 
Sewing  Society,  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Kaufman,  just  from  the  seminary,  who  soon  gath- 
ered there  one  of  the  largest  Sabbath  Schools  in 
our  city,  and  the  nucleus  of  a  congregation. 
Just  however  as  they  were  preparing  to  under- 
take the  erection  of  a  church  edifice,  it  was  urged 
that  there  was  in  the  north-western  part  of  the 
town  a  large  number  of  Irish  Presbyterians,  who 
attended  no  church,  and  would  be  soon  lost 
to  us  if  some  effort  was  not  made  in  their  be- 
half. Accordingly  a  room  was  rented  in  that 
neighborhood,  and  after  a  short  time  a  commit- 
tee was  formed  of  three  members  from  each  of 
the  three  nearest  churches — the  First  Church, 
the  Franklin  Street  Church,  and  the  West- 
minster Church,  to  erect  the  present  Twelfth 
Church,  in  west  Franklin  street.  This  has 
grown  to  be  a  most  important  missionary  en- 
terprise, and  promises  to  become  very  soon,  un- 
der its  present  efficient  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Marshall,  a  self  sustaining  church. 


85 

As  soon  as  the  Twelfth  Church  was  completed, 
the  South  Church  on  Federal  Hill  was  com- 
menced, in  1854.  That  congregation  had  been 
holding  their  Sabbath  School  and  worshiping 
in  an  inconvenient  hall.  The  interest  felt  by 
the  congregation  in  a  mission  under  the  care  of 
our  own  ladies,  rendered  it  comparatively  an 
easy  matter  to  secure  this  most  attractive  of  our 
mission  church  edifices.  From  this  brief  account 
it  will  be  seen  that  our  denomination  has,  dur- 
ing this  last  period  of  our  congregational  his- 
tory, increased  from  three  to  twelve  churches,  in 
which  increase  this  church — the  mother  of  them 
all — has  been  permitted  to  be  the  most  promi- 
nent instrument. 

During  all  this  time  our  city  has  been  rapidly 
extending  in  every  direction — and  that  central 
portion  of  it,  in  which  our  own  church  was  loca- 
ted, was  becoming  fast  converted  into  a  mere 
place  of  business.  As  early  as  1852,  at  a  social 
gathering  at  Mr.  Stirling's,  the  necessity  of  an 
eventual  removal  of  the  church  was  discussed. 
And  subsequently  a  number  of  persons  belong- 
ing to  the  congregation  convened  at  the  parson- 


86 

age  several  times,  and  at  length  determined  to 
purchase  the  lot  on  which  the  new  edifice  has 
been  erected.  In  October,  1853,  the  congrega- 
tion was  convened  to  consider  the  question  of 
removal,  and  after  full  discussion  resolved  to 
accept  the  offer  of  the  lot  by  those  who  had  pur- 
chased it,  and  to  go  forward  with  the  erection,  as 
soon  as  the  old  church  could  be  disposed  of,  or 
other  arrangements  be  made.  The  next  autumn 
plans  were  submitted  by  the  Hon.  J.  Morrison 
Harris,  the  chairman  of  that  committee,  and  the 
ground  was  broken  July,  1854.  This  is  not  the 
occasion  for  tracing  the  history  of  the  new 
structure.  At  the  time  of  its  commencement, 
Messrs.  George  Brown,  A.  Stirling,  A.  Murdoch, 
Joseph  Taylor,  William  Buckler,  S.  Collins,  Wil- 
liam Harrison,  J.  Morrison  Harris,  A.  Turnbull, 
J.  Armstrong,  J.  I.  Fisher,  and  A.  Winchester, 
constituted  the  committee.  Dr.  Collins  and  Mr. 
Fisher  resigned  during  the  progress  of  the  build- 
ing, and  Messrs.  H.  Easter  and  C.  Findley  were 
elected  in  their  places.  "If  you  seek  their  mon- 
ument, LOOK   AROUND    YOU." 


87 

But  it  was  not  merely  in  the  work  of  church 
extension  that  the  activities  of  the  congregation 
were  especially  called  out  during  this  last  period 
of  its  history.  The  age  is  emphatically  one  of 
active  christian  benevolence.  And  within  the 
last  twenty-five  years    our  own  denomination* 


°  In  the  early  history  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  this  country, 
as  of  all  sister  denominations,  missions  were  impracticable.  The 
churches  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  supporting  the  gospel  at 
home.  The  ministers  were  doing  real  missionary  work  in  their  own 
congregations.  And  although  surrounded  with  the  aborigines  of  the 
country,  these  led  so  roving,  unsettled  a  life,  and  the  facilities  for 
reaching  them  were  so  few,  that  there  was  but  little  encouragement 
to  undertake  much,  even  if  the  church  had  possessed  the  means. 
Still  like  the  Macedonians,  in  the  great  trial  of  their  affliction,  their 
deep  poverty  abounded  unto  the  riches  of  their  liberality.  The  Pres- 
byterian church,  from  its  commencement  in  this  country,  counseled, 
prayed,  and  labored  in  this  behalf.  Its  first  efforts  were  to  extend 
the  gospel  in  the  destitute  portions  of  our  own  land,  the  greater  part 
of  which  was  missionary  ground.  These  were  prosecuted  with  as 
much  earnestness  as  limited  means  would  allow,  till  the  war  of  Inde- 
pendence, which  greatly  interrupted  everything  of  this  kind.  When 
however  the  General  Assembly  was  formed  in  1789,  the  state  of  the 
country  was  such  as  to  afford  increasing  encouragement  in  this  work. 
It  was  made,  at  the  very  first  meeting,  a  prominent  subject  of  con- 
sideration, and  has  never  been  lost  sight  of  since.  Nor  was  the  sub- 
ject of  Foreign  Missions  entirely  overlooked.  As  early  as  1741,  ap- 
plication was  made  to  the  society  for  propagating  the  gospel  among 
the  heathen,  which  had  been  established  in  Scotland,  in  1709,  and 
this  institution  appointed  a  Board  of  Correspondence  in  New  York, 
which  commissioned  first  Mr.  Horton,  and  then  David  Brainerd.  and 
subsequently  his  brother,  John  Brainerd,  under  the  direction  of  the 


S8 

has  become  more  completely  equipped  for  the 
work  of  preaching  the  gospel  to  every  creature. 
It  was  my  privilege  to  enter  the  ministry,  and 
to  come  to  this  charge,  at  a  most  favorable 
period  in  this  respect.  Previously  the  contribu- 
tions of  the  churches  had  been  often  large,  but 
they  were  occasional  and  irregular.  The  ma- 
terial prosperity  of  the  country  however,  and  the 
revivals  that  had  prevailed  more  or  less  gener- 
ally for  nearly  one-third  of  a  century,  in  which 
this   congregation  had   very  graciously   shared, 


Presbytery  of  New  York.  In  1802  the  work  of  missions  had  become 
so  extensive  that  the  General  Assembly  found  it  impracticable  to 
give  that  attention  to  the  business,  during  the  brief  season  of  its  an- 
nual sessions,  its  importance  demanded  ;  and  appointed  a  standing 
committee  on  missions  to  act  throughout  the  year.  This  was  the 
origin  of  our  various  Boards  under  which  this  general  cause  of  benev- 
olence has  been  developed  in  our  denomination  to  its  present  propor- 
tions. This  committee  was  re-organized  as  a  Board  of  Missions  in 
1816.  In  1819  the  Board  of  Education  was  formed.  In  1837  that 
of  Foreign  Missions — the  organization  taking  place  in  the  lecture 
room  of  this  church.  In  1838  the  Board  of  Publication.  And  in 
1855  the  Committee  of  Church  Extension,  the  duties  of  which  had 
been  previously  discharged  for  several  years  by  the  Board  of  Domes- 
tic Missions.  These  constitute  the  sjiecial  agencies  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  which  co-operates  with  the  American  Bible  Society,  the 
American  Tract  Society,  and  the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  in 
the  remaining  religious  objects  of  benevolence  that  distinguish  our 
age. 


80 

prepared  the  way  for  the  development  of  a  more 
systematic  benevolence.  A  brief  connection  of 
a  few  months  with  one  of  our  Boards  had  im- 
pressed me  with  a  sense  of  the  importance  of 
having  the  contributions  of  the  churches  more 
regular.  The  Session  was  entirely  prepared  to 
resolve,  at  one  of  its  first  meetings,  that  an  op- 
portunity should  be  afforded  to  the  members  of 
the  congregation  to  contribute  to  each  of  the 
leading  religious  charities  of  the  day,  viz.  Foreign 
and  Domestic  Missions,  Education  for  the  Minis- 
try, the  Bible,  Tract,  and  Sunday  School  Socie- 
ties, and  the  Poor,  once  every  year.  And  so  far 
as  I  am  aware,  this  has  been  regularly  done 
ever  since,  without  a  single  omission,  certainly 
without  any  exception  in  the  case  of  our  own 
Boards.  And  to  this  simple  principle  may  be 
attributed  a  great  measure  of  our  usefulness  in 
this  department  of  christian  duty. 

For  the  first  ten  or  twelve  years  these  objects 
were  presented  principally  by  agents  visiting  the 
congregation  for  the  purpose,  and  annual  collec- 
tions were  made.  These  amounted  to  an  aver- 
age of  three  thousand  dollars  a  year ;  besides, 


90 

during  that  time,  about  ten  thousand  dollars 
contributed  to  special  objects,  including  the 
Free  Church  of  Scotland  at  the  time  of  the  dis- 
ruption, the  special  effort  for  the  endowment  of 
the  Seminary  at  Princeton,  and  the  semi-cente- 
nary fund  for  the  Board  of  Publication  ;  and  also 
about  ten  thousand  for  mission  churches  in  this 
city — in  all  about  sixty  thousand  dollars. 

In  1846,  when  on  a  visit  to  Scotland,  Dr. 
Chalmers  handed  me  a  copy  of  his  "Christian 
Economies,"*  in  which  he  developed  the  plan  of 
supporting  and  extending  the  gospel,  which  has 
proved  so  successful  in  the  "Free  Church,"  ren- 
dering it  one  of  the  most  liberal  and  efficient 
churches  in  Christendom.  He  warmly  urged  the 
adoption  of  something  of  the  kind  by  the 
churches  of  this  country.  On  my  return  occa- 
sion was  soon  found  for  testing  its  applicability 
to  our  circumstances.  Within  a  few  months  the 
Franklin  Street  Church  colony  went  out  from 
us,  taking  a  large  amount  of  material  and  spir- 


tt  This  pamphlet  was  subsequently  published,  with  an  introduc- 
tion by  Dr.  Hodge,  through  the  liberality  of  a  distinguished  layman 
in  New  York,  by  our  Board  of  Publication. 


91 

itual  strength.  The  old  plan  of  making  contri- 
butions had  previously  lost  something  of  its  effi- 
ciency. And  this,  with  the  decrease  of  our  num- 
bers, threatened  a  very  serious  diminution  of  our 
collections ;  so  that  the  necessity  of  some  mode 
of  awakening  additional  interest  in  this  object 
was  deeply  felt.  The  "Free  Church"  plan  was 
submitted  to  the  Session,  and  after  some  delibe- 
ration was  adopted  by  them,  although  not  with- 
out some  misgiving  lest  the  want  of  familiarity 
with  such  a  mode  of  contributing,  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  collecting  their  contributions  from  so 
large  a  number  might  prevent  its  success.  Soon 
after  its  adoption,  it  was  formally  explained  in  a 
discourse  delivered  September,  1848.  As  we 
have  now  made  trial  of  it  during  the  space  of 
ten  or  twelve  years,  it  may  be  said  that  while  it 
is  not  claimed  to  have  accomplished  all  that 
could  have  been  desired,  it  has  nevertheless  ex- 
ceeded our  most  sanguine  anticipations  ;  requir- 
ing less  toil,  producing  less  friction,  and  yield- 
ing far  greater  results  than  the  former  plan. 

The  first  year  of  its  adoption,  notwithstanding 
the   congregation  had  been   diminished  by  the 


92 

outgoing  colonies  to  form  the  Franklin  Street 
and  Westminster  Churches,  its  contributions  in- 
creased from  three  thousand  dollars,  (the  pre- 
vious average,)  to  more  than  four  thousand ;  the 
second  year  to  five  thousand,  four  hundred ;  the 
third  year  to  over  six  thousand,  and  so  on,  grad- 
ually increasing  till  the}7"  amounted  to  more  than 
ten  thousand  dollars  a  year,  notwithstanding 
that  during  this  period  we  lost  by  death  and  re- 
movals contributors  who  had  given  twelve  hun- 
dred dollars  annually.  In  addition  moreover 
to  these  regular  stated  contributions,  the  congre- 
gation has  given  an  average  of  four  thousand 
dollars  annually  to  special  religious  objects, 
making  its  religious  benefactions- during  the  last 
eleven  years  double  the  amount  of  those  of  the 
previous  twelve  years.  This  has  been  of  course 
independent  of  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the 
church — amounting  to  about  forty  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  the  cost  of  the  new  building,  (over  and 
above  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  old 
church,)  about  eighty  thousand  more.  To  some 
this  may  seem  a  large  sum  for  a  single  congre- 
gation to   contribute   to  religious  purposes — an 


93 

amount  that,  with  the  divine  blessing,  might  ac- 
complish a  vast  extent  of  good.  And  yet  how 
little  inconvenience  has  it  occasioned  to  even  the 
most  liberal  contributors. 

Such  then  is  a  cursory  review  of  the   history 
of  this  congregation  during  its  occupancy  of  this 
building  that  we  are  now  about  to  leave,  resign- 
ing it  to  other  hands,  and  for  different  uses.     It 
is  with  feelings  of  no  feigned  sadness,  that  we  go 
out  to  even  a  more  imposing  structure,  in  a  more 
convenient  location.     But  have  we  not  the  most 
abundant  reason  to  thank  God  that  we  have  en- 
joyed its   privileges  and  opportunities  for  good, 
that  the  lines   have  fallen  to  us  in  so  pleasant 
places,  and  that  we  have  had  so  goodly  a  heri- 
tage so  long,  where  we   might  look  back  upon 
such  predecessors,  into  whose  labors  we  were  al- 
lowed to  enter  in  this  favored  age.     AVe  must 
acknowledge  indeed  that  our  praises  need  to  be 
tempered  with  the  profoundest  humility,  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  with   so  much  better  opportuni- 
ties and  greater  facilities  as  the  result  of  the 
labors  of  those   who  have  preceded  us,  we  have 
accomplished  so  much  less   than  we  might  have 
accomplished. 


94 

But  now  that,  through  the  good  hand  of  our 
God  upon  us,  we  have  been  permitted  to  see  our 
new  enterprise  brought  to  so  desirable  a  comple- 
tion, and  are  just  about  to  enter  upon  a  new  era 
with  so  encouraging  a  past  to  look  back  upon, 
and  so  promising  a  future  to  look  forward  to, 
shall  we  not  this  day  renewedly  consecrate  our 
service  unto  the  Lord.  What  may  we  not  ac- 
complish, if  with  cheerful  hearts,  and  willing 
minds,  with  prayerful  spirits,  and  devoted  lives, 
we  heed  the  call  of  God's  providence  and  grace, 
and  present  ourselves  a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and 
acceptable  unto  God,  which  is  our  reasona- 
ble service.     . 


APPENDIX. 


PASTORS. 

Eev.  Patrick  Allison,  D.  D., From  1763,  till  1802. 

Rev.  James  Inglis,  D.  D., From  1802,  till  1819. 

Rev.  William  Kevins,  D.  I)., From  1820,  till  1835. 

Rev.  John  C.  Backus,  D.  D., From  1836. 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    COMMITTEE, 


Names. 

When  Elected. 

Ceased  to  Serve 

John  Stevenson, 

1764 

1765 

John  Smith, 

.     1764     . 

.    1780 

William  Lyon, 

1764 

1788 

William  Buchanan,     . 

.     1764     . 

.     1781 

William  Smith, 

1764 

1814 

William  Spear, 

.     1764     . 

.    1790 

James  Sterret, 

1764 

1782 

Jonathan  Plowman,    . 

.     1764     . 

.     1773 

Alexander  Stenhouse, 

1765 

1775 

John  Boyd, 

.     1765     . 

.    1789 

Samuel  Pcrviance, 

1770 

1787 

John  Little, 

.     1770     . 

.    1773 

Samuel  Brown, 

1771 

1771 

James  Calhoun,    . 

.     1771     . 

.    1820 

90 


Names. 

Egbert  Purviance,  . 
William  Neill, 
Hugh  Young, 
John  Sterret, 
David  Stewart, 
Nathaniel  Smith, 
Joseph  Donaldson, 
Robert  Gilmor, 
Samuel  Smith, 
William  Patterson,    . 
Christopher  Johnston, 
Doctor  G.  Brown, 
Stephen  Wilson, 
John  Swan, 
William  Robb, 
J.  A.  Buchanan, 
George  Salmon, 
Col.  Stricker. 
James  McHenry, 
Amos  Williams,  . 
Alexander  Fridge, 
Alexander  McDonald, 
James  Cox, 
Alexander  Ntsbet, 
Robert  Smith, 
Robert  Gilmor,  Jr.,     . 
John  Purviance, 
Jonathan  Meredith,   . 
George  Brown, 
Roswell  L.  Colt. 


'hen  Elected. 

Ceased  to  Serv 

1771 

1806 

.   1773  . 

.  1785 

1779 

1784 

.  1779  . 

.  1785 

1779 

1818 

.  1779  . 

.  1787 

1781 

1783 

.  1781  • 

.  1822 

1782 

1832 

.  1785  . 

.  1811 

1787 

1819 

.  1787  . 

.  1807 

1789 

1821 

.  1790  . 

.  1818 

1792 

1804 

.  1796  • 

.  1810 

1804 

1807 

.  1807  . 

.  1822 

1810 

1822 

.  1813  . 

.  1822 

1814 

1839 

.  1816  . 

.  1836 

1817 

1841 

.  1819  . 

.  1854 

1821 

1828 

.  1822  . 

.  1848 

1822 

1854 

.  1822  . 

.  1828 

1825 

1859 

.   1828  ■ 

.  1835 

07 


Names. 

When  Elected. 

i  k  18ED  tii  Serve 

John  T.  Baku, 

1829 

1835 

Henky  Bikd, 

.      1831     . 

.    1835 

James  Armstrong, 

1832 

1839 

James  Swan, 

.      1832     . 

.    1854 

Alexander  Murdoch, 

1834* 

James  Campbell, 

.     1835     . 

.    1838 

Francis  Hyde, 

1836 

1852 

Francis  Foreman, 

.     1836     . 

.    1854 

Thomas  Finley, 

1838 

1846 

A.  Stirling, 

.     1839* 

C.  A.  SCHAEFFER, 

1839 

1847 

Joseph  Taylor, 

.      1843- 

J.  Spear  Smith, 

1844 

1849 

Stephen  Collins, 

.     1846     . 

•    1859 

William  Harrison, 

1849* 

John  Armstrong, 

.     1849*. 

William  Buckler, 

1854* 

Alexander  Turnbull, 

1854 

.    1859 

J.  Morrison  Harris,     . 

.     1854* 

Alexander  Winchester, 

.     1854 

1859 

James  I.  Fisher, 

1855     . 

.    1859 

Charles  Findlay, 

.     1858* 

Hamilton  Easter, 

1858* 

George  S.  Brown, 

.     1859* 

Samuel  Mactier, 

1859* 

Andrew  Eeid, 

.     1860* 

Those  marked  *  comprise  the  present  Committee. 


98 


RULING     ELDER  S . 

In  1781,  the  following  entry  is  found  in  the  Records  of  the  Com- 
mittee :  "The  peculiar  circumstances  of  our  Society  at  its  fir.tf,  forma- 
tion, especially  the  small  number  able  and  willing  to  discharge  pub- 
lic trusts  therein,  obliged  some  persons  to  fill  different  employments 
in  the  capacity  of  both  what  are  called  elders  and  deacons,  or  com- 
mittee men.  But  our  respectable  establishment,  and  happy  increase 
now  furnish  the  means  of  removing  this  inconvenience.  Be  it  there- 
fore remembered  that  the  following  gentlemen,  Dr.  William  Lyon, 
Messrs.  John  Smith,  William  Buchanan  and  James  Sterret,  who 
originally  acted  rn  these  two  characters,  being  previously  chosen  by 
the  congregatioi  ,  agree  to  serve  under  the  former  (that  of  elders) 
alone."     Those  elected  under  this  resolution  were  not  ordained. 

In  1804  we  find  another  volume  of  Records  opening  as  follow  s  : 
"Be  it  known  that  Messrs.  Robert  Purviance,  David  Stewart,  Chris- 
topher Johnston  and  George  Salmon,  having  been  previously  elected 
to  the  office  of  the  eldership,  in  the  First  Presbyterian  congregation 
in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  were  on  the  1st  day  of  April,  1804,  solemnly 
ordained  and  set  apart  to  said  office,  according  to  the  provisions  in 
chapter  xii,  Form  of  Government  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S. 
A.  At  the  same  time,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Finley  (previously  an  elder  in 
Pennsylvania)  was  also  elected. 

In  1817  the  congregation  resolved  to  elect  elders  annually.  This 
however  was  continued  only  one  or  two  years,  the  Synod  having 
censured  it  as  a  departure  from  the  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States. 


99 


Names. 

When  Elected. 

Ceased  to  Serve. 

William  Lyon, 

1781 

John  Smith, 

.      1781 

William  Buchanan, 

1781 

James  Sterret, 

.     1781 

William  Smith, 

1781 

William  Buchanan,    . 

.     1781 

EOBERT    GlLMOR, 

1781 

David  Stewart, 

.     1781 

Christopher  Johnston,   . 

1781 

EOBERT    PURVIANCE, 

.     1804     . 

.     180G 

David  Stewart, 

1804 

1818 

Christopher  Johnston, 

.     1804     . 

.     1819 

George  Salmon, 

1804 

1807 

Ebenezer  Finlev, 

.     1804 

John  McKean, 

1809 

Stewart  Brown, 

.     1809 

Maxwell  McDowell, 

1814     . 

.     1817 

James  Mosher,     . 

•      1814 

1817 

Thomas  Finley, 

1814     . 

.     1817 

David  Boisseau, 

.      1814 

1817 

James  Mosher, 

1818° 

.     1846 

William  Taylor, 

.      1818     . 

.     1830 

James  Delacour,     . 

1819 

1820 

Maxwell  McDowell, 

.      1829  ° 

1848 

George  Morris, 

1829     . 

.     184G 

David  S.  Courtxay. 

.      1834f 

1840 

John  N.  Brown, 

1834  t 

.     1852 

William  L.  Gill, 

.     1834 

•  Re-elected                    |  Resigned. 

Remove* 

1  to  Westminstei 

SVhen  Elected. 

Ceased  to  Serve 

1840 

.      1840  * 

1847 

1840  °  . 

.    1847 

.     1848 

.      1848 

100 


John  Rodgers, 
David  Stewart, 
John  Falconer, 
William  W.  Spence, 
William  B.  Canfield, 

In  1840  Messrs.  Henry  C.  Turnbull,  John  Haskell,  Moses  Hyde 
and  Lancaster  Ould  were  elected  deacons  and  served  till  they  re- 
moved from  the  church. 

The  following  Minutes  from  the  Session  Book  record  ihe  death  of 
two  of  the  first  regularly  ordained  Elders  of  the  church. 

ROBERT  PURVIANCE. 

On  the  evening  of  October  9th,  180G,  departed  this  life,  in  the 
seventy-second  year  of  his  age,  Robert  Purviance,  one  of  the  Elders 
of  this  congregation,  and  for  many  years  one  of  the  Committee  en- 
trusted with  its  temporal  concerns.  Steady  and  regular  in  all  his 
habits — firm,  resolute,  resigned  and  unrepining  amidst  his  trials — 
punctual  in  his  dealings — faithful  in  his  duties — assiduous  in  his  at- 
tendance on  public  worship  and  the  various  institutions  of  religion — 
equally  respectable  and  amiable  in  social  intercourse — as  a  father 
kind  and  provident — as  a  husband  generous,  constant  and  invariably 
affectionate  and  uniform ;  consistent,  respectable  through  life,  and 
also  through  the  hasty  stages  of  a  painful  malady  which  led  him  to 
his  grave.  He  has  left  an  example  ornamental  to  the  religion  he 
professed,  and  worthy  of  general  imitation. 

*  Removed  to  Franklin  street. 


101 


GEORGE  SALMON. 

On  the  morning  of  September  13th,  1807,  being  the  Lord's  day, 
while  the  congregation  were  assembled  for  public  worship,  de- 
parted this  life,  after  a  few  days  of  severe  illness,  George  Salmon, 
one  of  the  Elders  of  this  congregation,  and  one  of  the  Committee  en- 
trusted with  its  temporal  concerns. 

Seldom  is  it  that  society,  civil  or  religious,  sustains  so  heavy  a  loss, 
or  the  domestic  circle  so  painful  a  bereavement,  as  occurred  in  the 
decease  of  this  most  estimable  man.  The  felicities  of  this  life,  of 
which  he  had  an  ample  share,  instead  of  interferring  with  the  claims 
of  Heaven,  as  they  too  often  do,  exalted  his  soul  in  pure  and  unaf- 
fected devotion  to  the  Father  of  Lights,  the  giver  of  every  good  and 
every  perfect  gift.  His  religion  was  of  the  modest  and  unobtrusive 
kind,  although  he  never  shrank  from  the  acknowledgment  of  its  obliga- 
tions. His  attainments  in  this  respect  were  great,  yet  were  they  ever 
accompanied  by  an  exemplary  humility.  His  dependence  was  on 
the  grace  of  God,  and  the  merits  of  the  Redeemer.  His  morality  was 
at  once  invigorated  and  characterized  by  his  religion.  The  same  sin- 
gleness of  heart,  the  same  meekness  of  temper — were  conspicuous  in 
both.  Walking  humbly  with  his  God,  he  did  justly  and  loved  mercy 
in  his  relations  with  mankind.  Righteousness  predominated  in  his 
pecuniary  transactions,  and  yet  left  room  for  a  generosity  as  diffuse 
as  ever  opened  the  heart  or  baud  of  man.  In  his  charities  he  was 
indefatigable,  and  the  distinguishing  features  of  his  mind  was  emi- 
nently visible  in  them,  his  left  hand  not  knowing  the  bounty  which 
his  right  hand  dispensed.  This  church  will  long  have  reason  to  de- 
plore the  privation  of  his  faithful  services— his  zealous  exertions  and 
his  unremitted  devotion  to  its  interests. 

'•His  witness  is  in  heaven  and  his  record  is  on  high." 

He  died  in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age. 


102 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  MINUTES  OF  THE  COMMITTEE. 

The  following  items  have  been  noted  in  reading  the  minutes  of  the 
"Committee,"  and  of  the  "Session,"  and  are  here  inserted,  with  the 
page  where  the  action  on  them  may  he  found,  as  a  matter  of  curios- 
ity and  interest. 

Mr.  Lee  was  chosen  the  first  precentor,  1765,  at  £  10  per  an- 
num. In  January,  1765,  Mr.  Smith  having  reported,  that  Mr. 
Lawson  was  willing  to  dispose  of  a  lot  of  ground  fit  for  our  pur- 
pose, eighty  feet  front,  and  extending  from  the  alley  on  which 
it  is  situated  to  Jones'  Falls,  for  sixty  pounds  Pennsylvania  currency. 
Mr.  Lawson  was  invited  to  meet  the  committee  at  its  next  meeting, 
and  the  offer  was  accepted.  The  deed  from  Alexander  Lawson  to 
William  Smith  and  others,  is  dated  October  21st,  1765.     In  March, 

1765,  Mr.  Buchanan  acquainted  the  committee  that  Captain  Charles 
Ridgely  offered  for  the  (log)  meeting  house  and  lot  one  bundled 
pounds,  and  all  the  ground  rent  due  on  said  lot  from  the  date  of  the 
lease,  allowing  the  congregation  the  free  use  of  the  house  till  May 

1766.  The  committee  accepted  this  proposal. 

In  May,  1765,  the  committee  agreed  to  purchase  from  Mr.  Law- 
son  forty  feet  additional  ground  adjoining  the  church  lot,  for  a  par- 
sonage. 

In  1770,  a  storm  of  wind  carried  away  a  part  of  the  roof.  In  1771 
it  was  agreed  to  enlarge  the  church  and  build  a  parsonage.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1772,  forty  feet  more  ground  was  leased  from  Mr.  Andrew 
Buchanan  ;  and  in  March,  1773,  the  committee  obtained  a  release  of 
the  reversion.  A  parsonage  was  erected  on  what  is  now  the  bed  of 
North  street,  in  1781.  In  1784  it  was  found  necessary  to  secure  the 
ground  in  front  of  the  church  with  a  brick  wall.     It  was  at  first  sloped 


103 


and  graded,  and   enclosed  with  h  wood  paling — and  then  the  brick 
wall  was  erected,  and  the  steps   and    paved  walks  were  made,  pp. 

48,  75, 

In  1785  the  first  steps  were  taken  for  procuring  the  Burial  ground 
on  the  corner  of  Greene  and  Fayette  streets,  p.  59. 

In  1789  the  congregation  met,  after  notice  from  the  pulpit,  to  con- 
fer and  determine  on  the  subject  of  a  new  church.  Sixteen  hundred 
pounds  had  been  subscribed,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  carry 
out  the  project,  viz.  Messrs.  James  Calhoun,  George  Salmon  and 
David  Williamson.  The  church  was  to  be  eighty  feet  by  sixty  :  two 
stories  high,  with  a  belfry,  and  galleries  ten  feet  from  the  floor. 
Messrs.  Gilmor  and  Patterson  were  appointed  to  get  plans  and  esti- 
mates for  the  new  church,  pp.  78,  79. 

In  1790  the  congregation  applied  for  the  use  of  the  Court  House 
as  a  place  of  worship  while  the  church  was  building,  p.  81.  This 
application  was  granted. 

In  1792  Dr.  Allison  prepared  an  abridgement  of  the  Catechism, 
and  the  committee  recommended  its  use,  p.  90. 

In  1791  the  new  church  was  sufficiently  completed  for  use.  In 
May,  after  notice  on  three  successive  Sabbaths,  the  congregation  met 
to  inspect  the  accounts,  and  adopt  a  plan  for  disposing  the  pews,  p. 
86.  In  1792  the  committee  made  a  full  report  of  their  proceedings 
from  the  beginning — a  very  interesting  document,  pp.  91-3. 

The  towers  were  ordered  to  be  completed  1795;  Messrs.  Salmon, 
Swan  and  McKean,  committee,  p.  103. 

In  1797  the  committee  applied  for  an  act  of  incorporation,  p.  111. 
In  1798  it  was  declared  to  be  expedient  to  reduce  the  ground  around 
the  church,  p.  117.  In  1800  an  agreement  was  made  with  reference 
to  opening  North  lane  and  reducing  the  ground  p.  121.  This 
ground  had  been  used  for  a  number  of  years  for  burial  purposes. 
The  congregation    reserved  the  right  to  continue  the  parsonage  on 


104 


part  of  the  street  as  long  as  it  suited  them,  not  exceeding  ten  years. 
They  retained  it  till  1805,  p.  153. 

In  1821  Col.  Mosher  and  Mr.  "William  Taylor  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  superintend  the  huilding  of  a  session  room,  p.  184. 

In  1835  the  church  was  thoroughly  repaired  and  the  ceiling  low- 
ered three  feet.     In  1837  gas  was  introduced. 

Octoher,  1853,  the  congregational  meeting  was  held  on  the  subject 
of  removing  the  church,  p.  247.  November,  1854,  the  plans  of  the 
new  church  were  adopted. 


THE  LAST  SABBATH  IN  THE  OLD  CHURCH. 

On  the  last  Sabbath  in  September,  1859,  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Baltimore,  in  accordance  with  a  previous  notice,  assem- 
bled to  worship  for  the  last  time  in  that  venerable  building.  It  hav- 
ing become  known  that  this  would  be  the  last  opportunity  to  engage 
in  the  sacred  services  of  that  House  of  God,  many  who  had  formerly 
attended  there,  and  some  whose  ancestors  had  there  worshiped, 
met  on  this  occasion  with  the  present  members  of  the  congregation, 
filling  the  church  to  overflowing.  At  the  morning  service,  in  con- 
nection with  the  usual  exercises,  the  preceding  discourse,  giving  a 
brief  history  of  the  congregation,  was  delivered.  At  the  afternoon 
service,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  for  the  last  time  in  that 
edifice.  The  pastor  was  assisted  by  the  Eev.  Dr.  Smith  of  the  Sec- 
ond Presbyterian  Church  ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dickson  of  the  Westminster 
Presbyterian  Church ;  the  Rev.  G.  D.  Purviance,  recently  the  pastor 
of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church,  himself  born  and  brought  up  in 
this  church,  and  descended  from  ancestors  who  were  among  the 
leading  founders  of  the  church,  and  who  had,  during  the  whole  of  its 
past  history,  afforded  in  successive  generations  some  of  its  most  valu- 


105 


able  officers;  and  the  Rev,  Stephen  Williams  the  oldest  Presbyterian 
preacher  in  Baltimore,  who  could  almost  look  back  to  the  opening 
of  the  building.  Many  former  members,  who  had  removed  to 
form  other  churches,  but  desired  here,  amid  the  solemn  and  tender 
associations  of  the  past,  once  more  to  commemorate  the  dying  love 
of  their  Redeemer,  met  with  us. 

There  were  also  present,  with  the  single  exception  of  Mr.  Henry 
C.  Turnbull,  elder  in  the  Govanstown  Presbyterian  Chapel,  who  was 
detained  by  sickness,  all  the  surviving  elders  and  deacons  who 
had  served  in  this  church ;  viz.  Messrs.  John  N.  Brown  and 
John  Falconer,  elders  in  the  Westminster  church  ;  Messrs.  David 
Courtenay  and  Lancaster  Ould,  elders  in  the  Franklin  street  church  ; 
Mr.  Moses  Hyde,  elder  in  the  Aisquith  street  church ;  Dr.  David 
Stewart,  elder  in  the  Annapolis  Presbyterian  church  ;  and  Mr.  John 
H.  Haskell,  recently  an  elder  in  the  Franklin  street  church,  now  a 
member  of  this.  These  assisted  the  present  elders  of  the  church  in 
distributing  the  elements. 

The  service  was  opened  with  singing  and  prayer  by  Mr.  Purvi- 
ance.  Then  followed  the  reading  of  the  words  of  institution,  and  an 
address  by  the  pastor.  The  bread  was  dispensed  by  Dr.  Dickson, 
and  the  cup  by  Dr.  Smith.  The  services  throughout,  at  this  family 
re-union  of  the  oldest  Presbyterian  church  in  Baltimore,  were  most 
tender  and  solemn.  None  who  were  present  will  soon  forget  them, 
but  it  has  been  thought  desirable  to  preserve  this  brief  memorial. 


